Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine – December 2021

Inspiring your adventures

Why choose Adria?

If you are seeking freedom and adventure, owning a caravan or motorhome is a great choice.

YOUR VEHICLE. Freedom and adventures when you want it, just plan your getaways and go!

YOUR ACCOMMODATION. Travel with family and/or friends, with your things and to your standards, in your own environment.

YOUR ITINERARY. Independent travel, your own itinerary, nd your own places away from the crowds.

YOUR ADVENTURES. Life changes with an Adria caravan or motorhome, offering endless possibilities for your adventures.

YOUR PEACE OF MIND. Adria is one of Europe’s leading caravan manufacturers, with over 600,000 recreational vehicles produced since 1965.

Please contact your nearest Adria dealership for more information: www.adria.co.uk/dealer-network

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Editorial Editor Gary Martin

Deputy Editor John Thynne

Assistant Editors Stuart Egan, Stephen Hollis

Design Michaela Millar

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President: Thomas Coke, 8th Earl of Leicester

Chairman: Grenville Chamberlain OBE

Director General: Nick Lomas

WELCOME

Gary Martin says:

In November we reported how Bailey of Bristol had hoisted a new Unicorn Vigo onto the roof terrace of One New Change shopping centre in London to celebrate Britain s staycation boom. Take a look at this month s front cover for a reminder! With the year drawing to a close, I started to ponder about how we could all think outside the box with regard to our touring plans. I have decided to do something different in 2022 – maybe I ll be a bit

“ Perhaps I’ll set myself an unusual touring challenge in 2022 ”

more adventurous and follow in Heidi Fuller-Love s footsteps on a road trip across beautiful Switzerland (see pages 38 to 40).

Or perhaps set myself an unusual challenge like our new contributor Philip Moon – on pages 60 to 63 you can read about how he set out to trace the River Thames from its source in Gloucestershire to Shoeburyness in

Essex, using Club sites as bases. A slightly less energetic but no less fun weekend might include a trip on a heritage railway followed by a walk along the River Nene back to our fantastic Ferry Meadows Club site (as enjoyed by Jonathan Manning on pages 54 to 56).

Or perhaps I ll treat myself to a stay in one of the Club s glamping pods at Cayton Village and use it as a base for discovering the delights of North Yorkshire – you can find out more about our Experience Freedom accommodation on pages 12 and 13. Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy festive season!

Editions of your Club magazine – with lots of extra content – are also available via an app on iPhone/iPad and Android tablets and phones.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

TOURING

TESTS

REGULARS

The

Jonathan

Horsey Beach by Amanda Weaving

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The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on the condition that the advertiser warrants that such advertisement does not in any way infringe copyright or contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act.

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350,264

Circulation: Jan-Dec 2020

Printing by Walstead Bicester

OPINION

Nick Lomas says:

Like many of you I’ve spent the past months thinking about places to visit and adventures to pursue when we are able to travel more widely again.

I revisited the accounts of ‘Caravan America’, a 1967 road trip across the United States undertaken by members of the Club. A delegation of Club families, led by Chairman Frank Collins, took part in an epic 5,600-mile transAmerican journey from Washington, DC to San Francisco. The US Wally Byam Foundation arranged the use of 20 Airstreams, towed by Pontiac Bonnevilles loaned by General Motors.

“ You can see many of the same sights today with the Club ”

Highlights included a tour of the United States Capitol, a talk by former President Eisenhower at Gettysburg, and the breathtaking views of the American Southwest, including the Grand Canyon and three national parks: Yosemite, Bryce Canyon and Zion.

You can see many of the same sights today with the Club. Our worldwide motorhome tours include ‘California Calling’ and ‘America’s National Parks’, covering a lot of the same spectacular scenery, albeit at a more relaxed pace. These self-guided tours include prebooked campsites in sought-after areas and motorhome hire, plus flights and hotels at arrival or departure cities.

In Canada, we recently launched the ‘Rockies by Rail and Road’ tour.

This is already proving popular with its combination of motorhoming through the scenic countryside and national parks of British Columbia and Alberta plus the renowned Rocky Mountaineer rail journey between Calgary and Vancouver. Our European programme continues to grow. The ‘Purely Portugal’ tour gives members the opportunity to explore a length of Portuguese coastline that includes Porto and Lisbon before ending on the Algarve. Another new one is ‘Wines of Alsace’, where visits to a number of vineyards and wine cellars – including the renowned Brotherhood of SaintEtienne – celebrate the region’s wine and history. We have some everpopular favourites, too, such as the ‘Dutch Bulb Fields’ tour, which was introduced more than three decades ago. It is sure to give you that burst of spring colour after the winter months. Whether it’s a weekend break close to home or a holiday of a lifetime, the Club’s here to help.

YOUR PHOTOS

Your most memorable touring moments caught on camera

PEACE OF THE ACTION

Borrowdale Club site is so peaceful and secluded and there is so much to do in the vicinity of the site without needing to drive.

Joseph Rood

Susan

LEAD DRIVER

Relaxing at Bromyard Downs Club site while teaching Tikka to drive so we can relax even more on the drive home!

Diane Green

Devon

Cumbria

RIOT OF COLOUR

Butterfly resting in the sunshine in the gardens at Castle Drogo. (Nearest Club site: Ramslade)

Philp

Herefordshire

BARK LIFE

Ruby enjoying the scenery on a walk above Glencoe ski centre. (Nearest Club site: Bunree)

Daniel Bridgeman

Scottish Highlands

COAST WITH THE MIST

Want to see your photo in a future issue? Send your images to camc.com/ inspiringadventures or tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #inspiringadventures

MANE ATTRACTION

Taken while staying at Black Knowl in the New Forest.

Julie Chantler

WELSH WONDER

SMALL WONDER

My husband captured this image of me holding Solomon’s Temple in the palms of my hands at Buxton Country Park, adjacent to the Club site. It was wonderful to feel the crisp, fresh air and take in the marvellous views of Buxton.

Carole Anne Egerton

Portmeirion in North Wales, it’s like stepping into little Italy, such a beautiful place!

(Nearest Club site: Min y Don)

Jan Brown

Trewethett Farm Club site by Barry Bishopp

Gwynedd

Hampshire

Cornwall

Derbyshire

GLAMPING FOR ALL

There are new ways of holidaying on some of our campsites. But our aim is the same – to help everybody enjoy this wonderful lifestyle!

The Club has been helping lovers of the touring lifestyle to enjoy the great outdoors for well over a hundred years. But we haven’t rested on our laurels – we’re always looking at ways to grow the Club and share our passion with more people.

We knew our members wanted to share their amazing experiences with friends and family who didn’t own a caravan or motorhome. And we also wanted to give like-minded people the opportunity to experience our wonderful Club and our UK campsite network.

Following positive feedback, we officially launched Experience Freedom accommodation in the form of glamping pods at our Alderstead Heath Club Campsite in Surrey in 2017. Reassuring comments led us to expand our horizons and Experience Freedom glamping breaks can now be booked at nine sites across the network (Abbey Wood, Alderstead Heath, Brighton, Cayton Village, Coniston Park Coppice, Daleacres, Moreton-in-Marsh, Southland and Troutbeck Head). Over these pages we aim to answer a few questions about this exciting Club development...

Why has the Club introduced glamping?

We launched Experience Freedom to help a wider audience make the most of the great outdoors. Glamping also gives members the opportunity to have friends and families join them on their holidays. We also receive bookings from members who have decided

to stop caravanning or motorhoming but still enjoy our sites and the great outdoors. In fact, during 2021, 40% of all Experience Freedom glamping nights have been booked by members for themselves, friends and family! And, of course, we have been providing tent pitches on over 50 sites for many years.

Does this mean less room on Club sites for traditional touring pitches?

Wherever possible, glamping units have been introduced on underutilised pitches or areas that would not otherwise have been used for caravans and motorhomes.

What is the Club doing with the money it makes from Experience Freedom?

The revenue generated by Experience Freedom glamping is reinvested back into the Club for the benefit of all members, and

helps to fund campsite redevelopments, system improvements and much more.

What types of accommodation do you offer at Experience Freedom locations?

Depending on the campsite you can stay in camping pods (cosy wooden huts), glamping pods (heated, double-glazed units with ensuite bathrooms) or plush glamping cabins that sleep up to six and feature dedicated outdoor living areas We have universally accessible glamping accommodation (with features such as a fully adapted wet room, wide doorways, low level kitchens, ramps and orthopaedic beds) at Cayton Village in North Yorkshire and Troutbeck Head in the Lake District, with more being added for 2022. We also have yurtsperfect for that authentic ‘back to nature’ experience – and traditional safari tents. Of course, you can also bring your own tent and pitch up at more than 50 Club campsites.

“Excellent campsite, very helpful staff, nice and clean, glamping pods had lovely views. So close to everything in Brighton. A perfect staycation.”

Member staying at Brighton Club Campsite

Camping pod at Abbey Wood Club Campsite

Karla Baker wrote about her stay in an accessible glamping pod Glamping pod, Brighton Club Campsite

Safari tent, Southland Club Campsite

What is the future for Experience Freedom?

We’re continually listening to guests and Club members so we can shape our future offering. In 2022 we’ll be introducing new styles of pods and cabins and more universally accessible accommodation. See page 23 for information on some exciting new glamping developments over the coming months!

■ Find out more and book at camc.com/ experiencefreedom

■ Watch TV presenter Matt Allwright interview the Club ’s Head of Strategic Product Development, Natasha Shane, about Experience Freedom at camc.events/efvideo

■ Don’t forget: Club members and their families and friends can save 10% on glamping breaks all year round*

*Terms and conditions apply – see camc.com/ experiencefreedom.

9

We offer glamping accommodation at nine Club campsites and tent camping at over 50 sites

“I would like to give this glamping cabin, four-day stay a five-star rating, and I would recommend it to all members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club”

40%

40% of glamping nights during 2021 were booked by Club members for themselves, friends or family

9

The average score out of 10 given by Experience Freedom guests for their overall glamping experience (year to Sept 2021)

Tent camping at Freshwater East Club Campsite, by Jamie Rewbridge

An idyllic location – glamping cabins at Troutbeck Head Club Campsite

Glamping pods at Brighton Club Campsite

Glamping cabins sleep up to six

Member staying at Cayton Village Club Campsite

Enjoy a memorable stay in a cosy, rustic yurt

Headlines

The latest stories from the touring world

VICE- CHAIRMEN HONOURED

Two of the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s long-serving Vice-Chairmen, Malcolm Groves and Janet Moore, have retired from duty and have been awarded honorary life membership. Malcolm and Janet both began caravanning during the 1970s, joining the Club in 1977 and 1981 respectively.

Janet, who initially owned a Volkswagen Caravanette, became Secretary of the East Dorset Centre and represented the Centre on Club Council before becoming a Nominated Member of Club Council in 1996. She then served on the Grants, Sites and Finance & Management Committees before joining the Executive Committee in 2007. A year later she became one of the Club‘s Vice-Chairmen and subsequently chaired the Grants Committee.

Janet (and her family) has enjoyed all aspects of caravanning over the years, lending support to a host of Club events, and is well-liked by many Club members.

The same can also be said for Malcolm, who towed his first caravan with a Volkswagen Beetle. He served as Rally Secretary, Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Northumberland Centre, representing the Centre on Club Council and later becoming Chairman of the grouping of Northern Centres.

Malcolm joined the Executive Committee in 1994, becoming Chairman of the Events Committee in 1997 before his election as a Vice-Chairman in 2015. He has also served on the Grants, Sites and Nominations Committees and chaired the Membership and Technical Committees.

with Grenville Chamberlain (right) Above: Malcolm and Dorothy Groves

To thank them for their long, dedicated service, both Janet and Malcolm were presented with life memberships and engraved, crystal Wanderer caravans at the Club’s AGM in October. We wish them all the best for the future. Mark SinclairWatson and David Turner were both elected as new Vice-Chairmen of the Club at the meeting.

See pages 78-80 for a full AGM report.

Poole Farm is CL of the Year

Poole Farm Certificated Location in Cornwall is the latest winner of the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s CL of the Year award.

The awards recognise the very best sites and reward hard-working owners who pull out all the stops for members.

Poole Farm previously won in 2014, while in 2018 the CL came second and it has also been named as a Regional Winner four times. Adjacent to the River Tamar and close to the Cornwall-Devon border, the peaceful, adults-only site has been run since 2015 by Louise and Greg Holmes, offering members a variety of walking and cycling routes as well as access to Dartmoor National Park and numerous other popular attractions.

Second place went to Rails End Nursery CL at the northern edge of the Cotswolds, near Evesham, which is run by Andrew and Jackie Locke. Cae Bugail CL on Anglesey, opened in July 2021 by Elen Wyn Hughes and Arwyn Hughes, came third.

The title of Best Newcomer (CLs that have opened within the past two years) was awarded to Norfolk’s Walnut Tree Farm. Situated near

Dereham, it’s a small site run by John, Rachel, Sophia and Charlotte Fish, who also own a flock of pedigree Hampshire sheep. Pitches here can accommodate larger motorhomes and offer views across grazing paddocks.

Our congratulations go to all the award winners, and we would like to thank members for taking the time to nominate and support their favourites. If you would like to find out more about the CL network, including these four CLs, please visit camc.com/cls

Louise and Greg Holmes, Poole Farm

Walnut Tree Farm

Cae Bugail

Andrew and Jackie Locke, Rails End Nursery

Choosing the right gift can be a challenge. Making the right choice for the planet can be even harder. But it doesn’t have to be. This Christmas, make the right choice with our experts and shop sustainable gifts from the Our Planet range.

Sir David Amess

It was with great shock and sadness that we learned of the passing of Sir David Amess. The Club is grateful for its long association with Sir David as Parliamentary Advisor; he was a staunch supporter of the UK holiday industry and caravanning and his advocacy was greatly appreciated. As an advisor to the Club for over two decades, Sir David helped us understand how to get the voice of tourism and caravanning heard in Parliament.

Sir David also met many hundreds of members and CL owners when hosting the Club’s annual CL of the Year and Sites in Bloom awards at the Houses of Parliament. He was always very interested in the lives of the people he was talking to, and keen to understand their situations. His enthusiastic support was always conveyed with a great sense of humour.

Our sincere condolences are with Sir David’s family, friends and colleagues. He will be greatly missed.

TRUSTPILOT REVIEWS

e d love it if you could tell us using our review partner Trustpilot, about your overall experience with the Club this year. Visit trustpilot.com, search for ‘Caravan and Motorhome Club’ and tell us what you think.

SITES IN BLOOM

Following a hiatus last year, we are delighted to report that Englethwaite Hall and Tewkesbury Abbey Club sites are the two worthy winners of the Sites In Bloom award in 2021.

Sites in Bloom is a long-running annual competition that is open to all Club sites across the network. The awards highlight the hard work, passion and talent of green-fingered site staff, and are split into two categories – ‘single couple’ for sites where there are just two members of staff and

‘multi-couple’ for sites run by larger teams. Despite stiff competition, Englethwaite Hall triumphed in the ‘single couple’ category while Tewkesbury Abbey saw off the ’multi-couple‘ challengers.

The Club’s Executive Committee thanked all the entrants and paid tribute to site staff for achieving such fine results in a year when they have been very busy with high occupancy levels and changes to rules and regulations, on top of normal day-to-day activities. Our congratulations go to the winners!

Sites to Inspire award

The Club has launched the Sites to Inspire Award this year – a celebration of the ‘extras’ that staff on the network provide to make visitors stays exceptional. The award showcases the creativity of staff who are trying to inspire guests during their stay, and is shared across two categories: ‘Large Occupancy Sites’ and ‘Small Occupancy Sites’. Club members and non-member visitors were asked to nominate sites for the award in their post-stay questionnaires.

We are delighted to report that Blackshaw Moor in Staffordshire won in the Large Occupancy Sites category, while Gwern-y-Bwlch in Powys was given the award for Small Occupancy Sites.

Members commenting on Blackshaw Moor highlighted the information plaques that detail the previous use of the site by Polish airmen and their families after the Second World War, as well as the dog cleaning sink and the willingness of friendly site staff to help. Staff at Gwern-y-Bwlch drew plaudits for the site’s biodiversity as well as their willingness to go the extra mile when helping members. Well done to all!

SUSTAINABILITY CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

Cirencester Park Club site is the inaugural winner of the Sustainability Chairman’s Award, which recognises the environmental, social and economic commitment being made across the sites network.

Site staff were asked to submit details of a project of their choosing which had a positive environmental, social or economic impact. The entries

were assessed and judged by Club Chairman Grenville Chamberlain.

Cirencester Park was chosen because of its dedication to biodiversity and sustainability. Some examples of the site s initiatives are the creation of bug homes; installation of a Tourer Explorer trail through the site’s biodiversity area, using wooden plaques from trees felled

locally; ‘upcycling’ of materials to create items for the benefit of members and the local community; ensuring that all food vendors visiting the site use recyclable or biodegradable materials; and selling and supporting local enterprises in the on-site shop. There were other very worthy entries, but the Chairman felt the Gloucestershire campsite deserved the award for 2021. Congratulations to all the staff at the site!

Gwern-y-Bwlch Club site

Blackshaw Moor Club site

Englethwaite Hall Club site

Tewkesbury Abbey Club site

STORAGE INFO

This autumn the Club will start collecting information from members getting Caravan Cover quotes about where they keep their caravans when they’re not using them.

We’re interested in how and where members store their caravans while they’re not touring. This information will help us to build a better understanding of the risk that different types of storage locations pose, particularly in relation to the likelihood of thefts. It should also help us better understand the most effective measures members can take to ensure the safety of their caravans.

Caravan thefts have been rising as thieves take advantage of the current high demand for outfits – ’vans are commanding high prices, making theft more lucrative for thieves. We are increasingly seeing high range and expensive caravans being targeted by criminals. This has resulted in the cost of our average theft claim increasing by 25% over the last year. However, with caravan parts also in high demand and fetching premium prices, all caravans are at increased risk of theft and good security measures are increasingly important.

As our Caravan Cover is provided directly by the Club for the benefit of members, it is important that we do all we can to reduce claim costs and therefore the cost of cover. Any profits made are reinvested directly back into the Club to improve our sites and services.

If you are a Caravan Cover customer you can let us know your storage details by simply filling in the form that can be found at camc.com/ yourcaravanstorage and we’ll update your cover details with this extra information. You can still continue to store your caravan anywhere in the UK (unless we’ve specifically told you otherwise, which will be shown as an endorsement on your cover).

Thank you for supporting your Club.

Carnon Downs – bookings open for 2022

In April the award-winning Carnon Downs became the newest addition to the UK Club Campsite Network. This beautiful Cornish site is set in 20 acres of landscaped gardens and is close to Loe Beach and the cathedral city of Truro. Members who have posted reviews online recently have highlighted the excellent facilities and great location, among other factors.

You can read member reviews and book 2022 pitches at Carnon Downs Club Campsite via camc. com or the UK Sites Booking App. Prices for 2022 stays start from £21.80 per night*. We’re also continuing to pass on the Government’s VAT saving for stays until 31 March 2022.

Please note, if you have an existing booking for 2021 and 2022 your stay is confirmed, your deposit is

Carnon Downs, by Mike Thomas

secure and we’ll do our best to honour your original pitch allocation where possible. *Price per night is for one adult and one standard pitch when staying at Carnon Downs Club Campsite between 4 Jan-1 Apr, 26 Sep-13 Oct or 31 Oct-15 Dec 2022.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Stories from the Club’s Collection

Now that the festive season is upon us, this month we take a look at how caravanning at this time of year first rose in popularity, during the 1930s.

The Club’s historic collection, hosted at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, holds a number of photographs, event programmes and magazine articles which give an incredible insight into the pioneering winter rallies that took place in the years before the Second World War.

In the early 20th century, horse-drawn caravan holidays were largely reserved for the summer months, in part due to poor road conditions and limited developments in insulation. Yet by the 1930s, the growing use of the motor vehicle had led to vast improvements in Britain’s transport infrastructure, making winter travel for leisure more achievable. Coupled with developments in the design of the modern trailer caravan, the first known Christmas gathering of caravanners emerged early in the decade and such events gradually became more popular annual fixtures following the relaunch of the then Caravan Club in 1935.

Perhaps the most talked about winter event was the London Centre’s 1938 Christmas Rally, which coincided with one of the UK’s heaviest festive snowfalls of the 20th century. Around 75 caravanners braved the elements to attend the rally at Moat Farm, Wrotham,

LATE AVAILABILITY

The Late Availability Checker – which you can find at camc.com/lateavailability – has been updated with new features. The search functionality has been extended, so you can now find available pitches for every day of the week across the next eight weeks (previously you could only search up to three weeks ahead). You can also search for available pitches on multiple campsites in your preferred area using the new filter by map feature.

Don’t forget that you can already search by date, region, county, individual campsite and even pitch type. Colour-coding makes it easy to see campsites with available pitches at a glance, and it works on any device, whether desktop, tablet or mobile.

A Christmas rally in 1933

Kent, travelling in heavy blizzards from as far afield as Norfolk and Portsmouth, long before the home-fromhome comforts we enjoy today were available! To find out more about Christmas caravanning during the 1930s visit our blog at nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/ caravanning-at-christmas, and you can keep up to date with the Club’s Collection on Twitter @camccollection.

Angela Willis

A host of festive attractions will be on offer at Beaulieu between 18 Dec and 2 Jan, including seasonal decorations, a yuletide trail, a traditional Victorian Christmas at Palace House and much more. For more information please see beaulieu.co.uk. Members are entitled to discounted entry – please see camc.com/ beaulieu for details and terms and conditions.

CENTRE LINES TO RETURN

Calling all Centre members! Our regular Centre Lines section will be returning soon, so please send your reports from rallies and any significant news stories to john.thynne@camc.com. If you are able to include colourful, high-resolution pictures, we will do our best to feature as many as possible each month.

We also plan to bring back our Events Diary pages in the new year. Please send details of rallies or temporary sites at or near major events (eg air shows, steam shows, etc) for inclusion in the magazine to the email address above. Due to our schedules, the earlier you can notify us the better.

Simply enter the size and weight of your motorhome or towing outfit and the Avtex Tourer Two (Caravan and Motorhome Club Edition) with its new advanced Dual Core Processor will guide you to your destination avoiding height, width and weight restricted roads.

Providing you with route warnings such as sharp bends or steep hills, the Avtex Tourer Two will even advise you of traffic jams and offer alternate routes when available

Satellite Navigation for Caravans & Motorhomes

• 7” Frameless Display (pinch-to-zoom)

• New Dual Core processor for complete enhanced performance

• Enhanced Specific routing for Caravans & Motorhomes

–Customised routes created for the size and weight of your caravan or motorhome.

–Camper specific speed limits tailored to your vehicle.

• Road Warnings

–Caravan / Motorhomes specific road warnings for bridge heights, weight limits, sharp curves, steep grades, narrow roads and more.

–Elevation map tool – be prepared for upcoming steep gradiants. Unlimited updates for Safety camera alerts.

• Find the right campgrounds and stopover places with Tourer Two EXCLUSIVE data bases

–Exclusive pre-loaded Caravan and Motorhome Club Site rich data bases including Certified Locations and Overseas Sites with detailed information.

–Trailer’s Park’s database of 8,500 of cost-free motorhome parking places across Western Europe (NEW).

–17,000 NKC customer rated campgrounds and stopover places in 38 countries.

–9,000 European campsites inspected by ACSI every year and search results based on amenities.

–Get information about prices, facilities, terrain, maximum number of places and more and filter by amenities. Contains pictures of most of the sites.

–Easily pan the map to search for Campgrounds (NEW.)

–Shows camp sites, rest areas, attractions or fuel stations up ahead and milestones along your route.

• Free European map updates via PC, Mac or WiFi

• Free Digital Traffic

• Hands-free features include Bluetooth® calling, smart notifications and voice-activated navigation

• Navigate Complex Interchanges with “spoken turn-by-turn” directions and active lane guidance

• TripAdvisor Travel POIs with ratings

• BC™30 and BC™40 Wireless Backup Camera compatible

Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire

1-5 June 2022

Celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

£195 price includes a four night stay for two adults, pitch with electric hook up plus a huge variety of live entertainment during the day and evening for you, your family and friends to enjoy:

The Trembling Wilburys | Mersey Legends | Chasing Mumford

The Jive Aces | Bye Bye Baby | Princes of Motown | Princes of Pop A TJ Reloaded | Upbeat Beatles Plus much more to enjoy: Segways | Laser shoot | Inflatable Helter Skelter Sporting activities and games for all ages | Arts & Crafts

ClubFest is successful because of the help of a large number of members who volunteer to work in various teams before, during and following the event. We are always looking for new volunteers so if you feel that you would like to join us then we would like to hear from you.

There are opportunities in all areas and if you would like to be involved please contact us by email events@camc.com and we will be in touch.

Sponsored by

A new, simplified booking experience

Following the successful revamp of our overseas online booking experience (launched in 2019), we are now concentrating on making it even easier for you to plan and book your holidays closer to home. We value your feedback – so, when you told us your online UK Club campsite booking experience could be improved, we set to work...

On pages 22 to 23 of last month’s issue, we introduced some of the ideas we have been working on – including improving the online search facility so you can find and compare multiple campsites more easily. This month we go into a bit more detail on three key improvements we will be delivering in 2022.

YOU SAID...

“I can’t find availability for the campsites and dates I want.”

“Due to not having to pay a deposit when booking, it is difficult to find a site with availability.”

“Please consider taking deposits, or similar, to discourage people from making bookings and then not turning up.”

SO WE...

Focused on improving availability

YOU SAID...

Many of you told us you want better availability across our UK Club campsites. So, we’re looking to introduce a new refundable deposit system (subject to terms and conditions) to reduce speculative bookings, create more availability and give you more choice.

In recent years we changed the way we put pitches on sale – now you can book a year ahead all year round. Plus we’ve made enhancements to the late availability checker (camc.com/ lateavailability), so you can now see availability for the next eight weeks.

“Why can’t you take payment ahead of arrival? It would streamline check-in and minimise contact, with no need to queue at reception.”

“I’d like a quicker check-in process.”

"I don’t understand why the Club does not allow payment to be made online before arrival.”

SO WE...

YOU SAID...

“I want to select and book a specific pitch type.”

“At the time of booking we couldn’t specify hardstanding rather than a grass pitch, so still don’t know what we’ll get.”

“We have a young child so prefer a grass rather than hard pitch, but you cannot guarantee this.”

Looked into a fast check-in option

We’ve been investigating ways to make your campsite check-in faster and more streamlined. When our new online booking experience goes live, you’ll be able to pay for your stay prior to arrival. o you ll be able to set up on your pitch more quickly and start enjoying your holiday even sooner!

SO WE... Improved pitch choice

We know how important pitch types can be to our guests and we’ve had feedback from members who would like to choose their favourite at the time of booking. So, to give you more choice and peace of mind when staying on our campsites, the new online experience will enable you to choose between a grass and hardstanding pitch at the time of booking.

We look forward to sharing another three key improvement areas and further news on the project in the January magazine. You can also keep up to date with the latest progress on our new webpage and read our frequently asked questions at camc.com/bookingexperience

Here’s to making the planning and booking of UK touring holidays an easier and more enjoyable experience for everyone!

Dunnet Bay, by Jean Pudney

North Ledaig Club Campsite, by Katie Dudley

Cirencester Park, by Dennis Wheeler

Sneak peek: here s a first look at the ‘search by map’ function within the new booking experience

CAMPSITE UPGRADES

Every year, the Club invests a significant amount of money across the UK Club campsite network to improve the standard of facilities. Here are the exciting plans for 2022...

After an incredibly busy year since reopening, we can invest more than ever before into our UK Club campsite network, with a planned spend in excess of £20m for 2022. Upcoming improvements include new and improved facilities, plus additional premium, serviced and hardstanding pitches –meaning more pitches available all year round!

CLUMBER PARK

Improvements to this Nottinghamshire site include new facilities blocks (featuring level access, dishwashing, laundry and family room), new serviced and premium pitches, a new play area, extra secure bike storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging in the car park. (Closed during redevelopment. Expected reopening date: 1 September 2022*.)

SCARBOROUGH WEST AYTON

The campsite will benefit from new toilet blocks, new serviced and premium pitches, improvements to the games room and play area within the playing field, and new EV charging points in the car park. (Closed during redevelopment. Expected reopening date: 1 September 2022*.)

LADY MARGARET’S PARK

Large-scale refurbishment at this campsite in North Wales will see a new toilet block, more touring pitches (including premium and serviced) and a new Experience Freedom glamping village (see separate story on this page). There will also be a new playground, a social space including outdoor seating and a ‘pop-up catering pitch’. Service points will be upgraded, improvements will be made to the site entrance and roads, and EV charging

points will be added to the car park. (The campsite will be closed throughout, with the 2022* reopening date under review.)

MORN HILL WINCHESTER

Two new facilities blocks will be added (with level access, dishwashing, laundry and family room) as well as new hardstanding and designated ferry pitches. An improved layout will give better access to pitches. (Closed during redevelopment. Expected reopening date: 1 September 2022*. Once open, the site will be open all year.)

CHEDDAR

This Somerset campsite will see eight new serviced pitches and a refurbishment of the toilet block. Cheddar will stay open throughout as service point only, until the work is completed in April 2022*.

BRIGHTON

An additional seven serviced pitches will be added, bringing the total to 31, and the final phase of decompacting pitches will be completed. The campsite will remain open while the work is carried out.

* Some redevelopments listed are still subject to planning approval. Additionally, the construction industry is being impacted by factors such as delays in the supply of materials. As a result, all dates published are tentative and subject to change. We hope to reopen campsites sooner than stated, we are working closely with our partners to try and achieve this. For updates and suggestions of alternative campsites to visit during the closed periods please visit camc.com/redevelopments

EXPERIENCE FREEDOM IS EXPANDING!

The Club will be introducing more glamping accommodation in 2022 – meaning a wider choice of staycation experiences for you and your loved ones to enjoy.

We’re adding a brand new Experience Freedom glamping village at Lady Margaret’s Park in North Wales, with accommodation ranging from glamping cabins (including accessible options) to en-suite safari tents. The campsite will be closed throughout, with the 2022* reopening date under review.

Coniston Park Coppice in the Lake District will see the arrival of five new glamping cabins, including one that is universally accessible (with features such as a wet room, wide doorways, ramp access and orthopaedic beds). This work will take place between January and May 2022 and the campsite will remain open as normal throughout.

At Daleacres in Kent, nine yurts will be back for 2022. The work will take place between January and March 2022 (in a separate area and away from the touring pitches) and the glamping will be open from Easter 2022.

To read about the various ways that Experience Freedom glamping accommodation benefits the Club as a whole, please see our article on pages 12-13 of this issue.

Clumber Park

Morn Hill Winchester, by Mark Jones

Ayton

Cheddar

Lady Margaret’s Park, by Vanessa White

Yurt at Daleacres

T O

You’ll definitely be jolly this Christmas if you use the Great Savings Guide

The Great Savings Guide, sponsored by MAYDAY UK Breakdown Cover, provided by Green Flag, is packed with discounts on attractions across the UK, and also enables you to make savings at cafés and restaurants, and with outdoor activity providers. This month we’re showcasing four places that are holding special Christmas and winter-themed events. Please visit camc.com/ greatsavingsguide for more details on all the offers mentioned as well as terms and conditions.

WARWICK CASTLE, WARWICKSHIRE*

Christmas at Warwick Castle is something special – discover staterooms adorned with festive decorations and see the 20ft-high Christmas tree. The stunning ice rink returns to the East Front this year – so you had better get your skates on (separate ticket required)

Great Savings Guide offer: Members save up to 15% off Christmas Castle entry from 27 Nov 2021 to 3 Jan 2022. Tickets must be pre-booked online in advance using the Caravan and Motorhome Club bespoke link. Visit camc.com/ seasonaltreats.

Nearest open Club site: Warwick Racecourse

*Before pre-booking, visit camc.com/ seasonaltreats

OXFORD BUS & MORRIS MOTORS MUSEUM, OXFORDSHIRE

SHREK’S ADVENTURE! LONDON*

On selected dates ecember 2 December and 18-24 December) kids and grown-ups can enjoy a special festive misadventure at hrek s dventure London. uests will be transported to the swamp where Santa has landed his sleigh. Keep your eyes peeled for carolling elves and other characters along the way. ll children get the chance to meet Santa and pose for a picture before receiving a candy treat.

Great Savings Guide offer: members save up to 15% year-round when pre-booking online. See our bespoke booking link at camc.com/seasonaltreats.

Nearest open Club site: Crystal Palace

AMBERLEY MUSEUM, WEST SUSSEX

on t miss Christmas at mberley On various dates in December (4-5, 11-12, 18-19) visitors can meet Santa (pre-booking required), follow the 12 Days of Christmas Trail, send Father Christmas a telegram in the Connected Earth building and browse the Christmas craft market. Great Savings Guide offer: members get £1 off a standard ticket per person or £5 off a family ticket (maximum four people). Pre-book online using the discount code C C202 at amberleymuseum.co.uk. Please present valid Club membership card on arrival to authenticate discount.

Nearest open Club site: Littlehampton

Taking a break from his extremely busy winter schedule, Father Christmas will be visiting this fascinating transport museum on 12 and 19 Dec 2021, so make sure he knows that you have been good this year Both days will also see free heritage bus rides at 12.15pm and 2.45pm. (The buses will depart from Oxford Bus useum and are subject to driver and vehicle availability.) The museum presents the story of bus and coach travel around Oxfordshire over the last 0 years. Exhibits include historic, preserved horse-drawn vehicles, buses and coaches.

Great Savings Guide offer: members save 20% on standard entry (not in conjunction with any other offer please present reat avings uide voucher and valid membership card on arrival.

Nearest open Club site: Burford

Don’t let a breakdown spoil your great day out Our Breakdown Cover provided by reen Flag has been designed with the needs of our members in mind. Find out more at camc.com/ mayday.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

See camc.com for the latest site information and follow official guidelines at all times. We also recommend that you check with businesses/attractions that are listed regarding opening dates/restrictions.

Early 19th-century windmill at Cley next the Sea

DIGGING DEEP

Jonathan Manning unearths a variety of treasures on a seven-site tour of historic East Anglia

It feels inappropriate, even rude, to laugh in the middle of an ancient burial ground. But standing at a viewpoint overlooking Sutton Hoo, it’s impossible to stop a grin spreading across my face. The grassy mounds below form one of the most important archaeological sites in the UK: in 1939 a dig unearthed the treasures of an Anglo-Saxon king, dated to about AD 625 and most likely belonging to King Rædwald of East Anglia. His body was placed in a ship, along with gold, garnets, swords and shields – passports to the afterlife, perhaps – and dragged a mile or so uphill from the River Deben. A remarkable armoured face mask that was uncovered –now on display in the British Museum, London – has become the dominant image of Anglo-Saxon Britain.

This fascinating history prompts me to wonder what a modern-day equivalent would be. Could a caravan or motorhome, filled with 21st-century treasures, serve as a fibreglass casket for one final

John Bingham / Alamy

Burial mound, Sutton Hoo

The famed Sutton Hoo mask (British Museum, London)

SPK / Alamy

WATCH VIDEO ON THE APP

Fields End Water

Affiliated Site

This AS has attractively landscaped pitches, three fishing lakes and a small café.

Pitches: 53

“This is our fourth visit this year! It’s a nice, clean site, the fishing is good, and my wife chills out reading.”

Darren Ward

Charlie Boughton Site view

Doddington Fish Bar, 37-39 High Street, Doddington, March PE15 0TH

Contact: 01354 741755

“The fishing is excellent, and the dog walks are lovely – you can walk for 30 minutes without leaving the site.”

Food & drink

Oliver Cromwell’s House, 29 St Mary’s Street, Ely CB7 4HF

Member view GREAT

Contact: olivercromwells house.co.uk, 01353 662062

Member offer available: camc.com/greatsavingsguide Culture

Outdoor fun

RSPB Ouse Washes, Manea, Welches Dam, March PE15 0NF

Contact: rspb.org.uk, 01354 680212

Contact: skylark-events.co.uk, 01354 741212 For the family 1

Skylark Maize Maze and Funyard, Manea Road, Wimblington, March PE15 0PE

tour? The thought makes me smile. The hilly heathland of Sutton Hoo’s 255-acre estate offers a choice of attractive waymarked trails, and later in the evening I’ll snuggle into a deckchair with a blanket to watch the recent film, The Dig, at a temporary outdoor cinema in the grounds of the site. The movie, starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan, brings the excavations to life in a story of curiosity and social class, set against the rumble of the impending Second World War.

FISHING AROUND

As King of the Angles, Rædwald would have ruled a region that corresponded loosely to

today’s Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex, the first three of which form the backdrop to this East Anglian tour.

It starts in the heart of the Fens at Fields End Water, an Affiliated Site with neat pitches and three well-stocked fishing lakes, as well as four funky glamping pods each with stove, underfloor heating and toilet –ideal for tourers wanting to bring friends and family.

By 10am, the small outdoor café by the top lake is serving tea, coffee and breakfast baps to fishermen, their gazes fixed on floats and rod tips in the morning light, while dragonflies dance in the reeds.

BOOKING INFO

Campers and brothers-inlaw Darren Ward and Douglas Battersby offer a quick ‘quality or quantity’ guide to the two more established lakes: The Pool offers all-day action, while The Pit holds the prospect of bigger fish but less frequent catches.

For the latest details and opening information for all our sites, please see camc.com

“The main lake has carp up to 27lbs and plenty of 20-pounders, and we’ve also got barbel, chub, roach and perch,” says Charlie Boughton, owner of Fields End Water. He estimates that about 60% of campers use the fishing lakes, although few are waterside from

dawn to dusk; others appreciate the opportunity to relax in this peaceful setting or explore the local area. “We encourage people to go to Ely, with its lovely cathedral, river, nice parks, cafés and restaurants,” says Charlie. Finding Ely is easy in this flat landscape, the giant cathedral rising above the surrounding Fens. Dykes and drainage ditches divide the landscape into geometric shapes, the water changing from dull pewter to shimmering silver whenever the sun breaks through. It’s an epic skyscape with only the occasional tree

2

White House Beach Club Site

Split by a road, half of this site enjoys views of the shingle beach, from where coastal walks lead in both directions. Pitches: 109

Member view

“We’ve caught the bus to Southwold and Beccles, and enjoyed walking around – the quay at Beccles is lovely.”

Dave Benson

Site view

“The beach is the main draw, with the National Coastal Path passing directly by the site.”

Simon Green

Food & drink

Adnams Tours & Experiences

Centre, Market Place, Southwold IP18 6EG Contact: adnams.co.uk, 01502 727222

Sutton Hoo, Tranmer House, Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge IP12 3DJ

Contact: nationaltrust.org.uk, 01394 389700

Outdoor fun Culture

Jump This Beccles (skydiving), Beccles

Airfield, Ellough NR34 7XD

Contact: jumpthis.co.uk, 0333 2478000

Member offer available: camc.com/greatsavingsguide

For the family

Africa Alive, White’s Lane, Kessingland NR33 7TF Contact: africa-alive.co.uk, 01502 740291

Ely Cathedral by Judith Magill

Left: boats on the sand flats at low tide, Wells-next-the-Sea

Above: Captain Sir Tom Moore design at Skylark Maize Maze; Cromer Pier Stuart Black / Alamy

Norfolk Broads Club Site

A flat, open site just a few yards from the River Ant, and ideally placed to explore the Broads. Pitches:

Below:

“It’s definitely worth hiring a boat to explore the River Ant up to Sutton Staithe or down across Ranworth Broad – if you can tow a caravan, you can drive a boat!”

Mark and Lynne Vaughan

Site view

“Campers bring their own kayaks, canoes and boats and drop them in the water at Ludham Bridge.”

Lyn Robson

Kings Arms, High Street, Ludham, Great Yarmouth NR29 5QQ

Contact: kingsarmsludham. co.uk, 01692 678386

St Benet’s Abbey, Ludham, Great Yarmouth NR29 5NU

Contact: stbenetsabbey.org

Outdoor fun

Electric eel boat trip, How Hill

National Nature Reserve, Ludham NR29 5PG

Contact: broads-authority.gov.uk, 01692 678763

For the family Culture

Wroxham Barns, Tunstead Road, Hoveton NR12 8QU

Contact: wroxhambarns.co.uk, 01603 783762

or wind turbine interrupting the horizon. It’s wise, though, to pay attention to the roads, which have in places been deeply rippled by subsidence, and can be a challenge when towing.

SUFFOLK PUNCH

From Fields End Water we venture farther into East Anglia and towards the Suffolk coast. White House Beach, at Kessingland, is a site of two halves: 24 pitches look directly onto the vast shingle beach, while the others hunker down on the opposite side of the road, sheltered from the blast of the North Sea winds. There’s a fish and chip shop, café-restaurant and pub within a couple of hundred yards of the site, while local buses head north to Lowestoft and down the coast to Southwold,

enabling motorhomers to park and stay put throughout their holiday. Assistant Site Manager Simon Green jokes that walkers could turn right from the site along the England Coast Path and come back from the left, having circumnavigated the country, “although perhaps not within a maximum three-week stay!”.

Feeling culturally virtuous after visiting Sutton Hoo, I decide to treat myself with a tour at the Adnams Tours & Experiences Centre, the brewer dominating Southwold like Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon. Covid-19 has limited access to the full alchemy of the brewing process, but a generous beer-tasting session guides our small party through the hops, malts and International Bitterness Units (enthusiasts apparently love discussing IBU scores) of Adnams ales.

Sampled one after the other, the range of flavours is so wide it’s hard to believe they

Member view

Food & drink

Left: A lapwing in flight over Norfolk wetlands

Beach huts at Southwold

Jerome MurrayCC / Alamy

nagelestock.com / Alamy

Ludham Bridge, by Katie Dudley

“ From its shore, Hickling Broad appears endless ”

are all beers. While a couple can stay in their casks as far as my tastebuds are concerned, the Kobold lager and Ghost Ship pale ale make me rue the fact that I’m driving. Happily, the 0.5% version of Ghost Ship is also particularly good.

BROAD-MINDED

Pointing north, I leave Suffolk behind and head into the waterscape of the Norfolk section of the Broads. With no hills, it’s hard to gain any type of perspective on this national park of lakes and rivers. Amazingly, the shallow lakes are man-made, originally dug as pits for peat before they were claimed by a rising water table, creating a natural world that is a haven for a quarter of Britain’s rarest species, including the crane, bittern and marsh harrier.

Lyn Robson, Site Manager at Norfolk Broads Club Campsite, says the best way to explore is by boat, adding that many Club members bring

Bush House Farm Certificated Location

A peaceful, spacious, grassy paddock with electric hook-ups, ideally located for exploring the Norfolk Broads

Member view

“We have been to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Hickling Broad to see the cranes, but we only saw a marsh harrier. And we’re looking forward to seeing the East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden.”

Tony and Angela Berry

Poppylands, Waxham Road, Great Yarmouth NR29 4EQ Contact: 01493 393393

Horsey Windpump, Horsey, Great Yarmouth NR29 4EE

Contact: nationaltrust.org.uk, 01263 740241

Outdoor fun Culture

Norfolk Outdoor Adventures, Staithe Road, Hickling NR12 0YW Contact: norfolkoutdoor adventures.co.uk, 01603 339133

Hickling Broad, Stubb Road, Hickling NR12 0BW

Contact: norfolk wildlifetrust. org.uk, 01692 598276 For the family

Boat houses at Hickling Broad

Adnams brewery tour

David Chapman / Alamy

Adnams/James Bedford

Tony Gage

5

Incleboro Fields Club Site

A large site carved in terraces into the wooded hillside with exceptional views out to sea from some pitches.

Pitches: 241

Member view

“We’ve been coming for 30 years, sometimes twice a year – there is so much to do and so many places to visit you never get tired of it.”

John James

Site view

“There’s a train station almost on the doorstep to get to Cromer, or Sheringham, where there’s a brilliant 1940s weekend every September.”

Tracey Allison

Food & drink

Rocky Bottoms, Cromer Rd, West Runton NR27 9QA

Contact: rockybottoms.co.uk, 07848 045607

Culture

Holkham Hall, Wellsnext-the-Sea NR23 1AB

Contact: holkham.co.uk, 01328 713111

Member offer available: camc.com/greatsavingsguide

Outdoor fun

Beans Boats (seal trips), Morston Quay, Blakeney, Holt NR25 7BH

Contact: beansboattrips.co.uk, 01263 740505

For the family

Hillside Shire Horse

Sanctuary, Sandy Lane, West Runton, Cromer NR27 9QH

Contact: hillside.org.uk, 01603 736200

“ Seals defy the elements, congregating in large groups at Horsey Gap ”

their own canoes and kayaks, which they launch at Ludham Bridge, a short stroll from the site. “The quietest place to go to hire a boat is Potter Heigham on the River Thurne, which leads to Hickling Broad; bigger boats can’t get under the bridge,” say Lyn.

Hickling is the largest of the broads and, from its shore, appears endless. I’m eager to see the cranes that started nesting here in the late 1970s, but even though the birds grow to well over a metre in height, they remain elusive. Upon further research, I make a mental note to visit the Stubb Mill viewing platform in the winter to watch them fly into the reeds at dusk each evening.

For landlubbers, there are three different walks direct from the Club site, including a

circular trail to the ruins of St Benet’s Abbey, a remote former monastery on the River Bure, where free guided tours take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the summer.

A few miles to the east, a climb to the top of Horsey Windpump delivers one of the few far-reaching panoramas in the area. The original windpump, employed to drain the land, played its part in taming an area which was so desolate and lawless in the late 18th century that it was known locally as Devil’s Country. Legislation eventually allowed for the land to be drained, and farming replaced flooding. A sign on the tearoom wall marks the former height of the sea; today, it reads ‘tea level’, not ‘sea level’.

Horsey Beach by Amanda Weaving

Griffon Barn

Paddock View

Certificated Location

6 A new, grassy CL with electric hook-ups, country views and (soon) even a sauna!

Member view

“We love Norfolk and this CL is well placed for visiting both the coast and inland. Mark and Kim were so welcoming. Pitches are well cared for and have lovely views across fields.”

Jane Barrett

Site View

“We’re a small, quiet working farm, but there’s lots going on nearby. Try the weekly markets at Swaffham, Dereham and Fakenham (which also has an auction every Thursday.”

Horsey means ‘Horse Island’, a throwback to the time when these fields provided a stud or grazing area for horses. These days, seals defy the elements, congregating in large groups at nearby Horsey Gap, where a viewing platform provides good odds for nature watchers.

Only a few miles in from the coast, Bush House Farm Certificated Location (CL) offers a blissfully quiet basecamp for exploring the area, with only owls and the

whinnying of ponies to break the peace, plus the promise of The Harnser pub just a mile’s walk away. No wonder there’s a huge number of repeat bookings.

ROAMIN TO CROMER

Life is a lot busier along the North Norfolk coast, where two summers of staycations have turbo-charged Cromer’s renaissance. The childhood quote from a holidaying Winston Churchill, embedded in the promenade, that reads, “I am not enjoying

Food & drink

Mark Bane and Kim Proudfoot

The Bell, The Green, Brisley, Dereham NR20 5DW

Contact: thebrisleybell.co.uk, 01362 705024

Culture

Swaffham Museum, 4 London St, Swaffham PE37 7DQ

Contact: swaffhammuseum. co.uk, 01760 721230

Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse, Gressenhall, Dereham NR20 4DR

Contact: museums. norfolk.gov.uk, 01362 860563

For the family

Whitwell & Reepham Railway, Whitwell Road, Reepham NR10 4GA

Contact: whitwellstation. com, 01603 871694

Member offer available: camc.com/greatsavingsguide

Cromer, by Rachel Sharman

Recreation of the Sutton Hoo burial

BRIAN HARRIS / Alamy

Holkham Hall

Holkham Estate

Outdoor fun

The Sandringham Estate Club Site

Tucked into beautiful woodland, this site has walks directly into Sandringham’s royal parkland.

Pitches: 138

“We’ve parked up the motorhome and walked everywhere, including to Sandringham House and back. You don’t need a car here.”

Trevor Norfolk

“We get a lot of birdwatchers coming here to visit the RSPB reserves at Titchwell and Snettisham. The murmurations are spectacular.”

Steve Varney and Mark Robertson

Food & drink

donkeys, sheep and goats. It’s rewarding to see hundreds of contented-looking animals whose former lives were full of neglect and cruelty.

Griffon Barn Paddock View CL, a working farm in the heart of the Norfolk countryside, is home to two rescued horses from the Redwings Horse Sanctuary. But it’s three pedigree Ryeland sheep that steal the show, woollier and cuddlier than teddy bears. This new CL is soon to have a dash of luxury, the owners having plans to install a wood-fired sauna.

ROYAL VISIT

Pointing the bonnet west, I head to the final stop of my tour, The Sandringham Estate Club site. Nestled in woodland, it’s a very attractive campsite with a good playground for children and a forest walk to the royal residence of Sandringham. The estate is the area’s dominant tourist attraction, hosting open-air concerts, Shakespeare plays, food fairs and game and country shows, so – as Site Managers Mark Robertson and Steve Varney point out – even regular visitors have reasons to return.

The Rose & Crown, Old Church Road, Snettisham PE31 7LX

Contact: roseandcrown snettisham.co.uk, 01485 541382

Culture

Sandringham House, Sandringham PE35 6EN

Contact: sandringham estate.co.uk, 01485 544112

Member offer available: camc.com/greatsavingsguide

Outdoor fun

RSPB Snettisham, Beach Rd, Snettisham, King’s Lynn PE31 7RA

Contact: rspb.org.uk, 01485 210779

For the family

Sea Life Hunstanton, Seagate Rd, Hunstanton PE36 5BH

Contact: visitsealife.com, 01485 533 576

Member offer available: camc.com/greatsavingsguide

“ Of course the main attraction is Sandringham House ”

myself very much”, looks increasingly out of place. Cocktail bars and cafés have opened, the rejuvenated end-of-pier show is winning rave reviews, Banksy has recently painted a mural, and there’s a thrilling air of optimism in the town. Even the ice creams are homemade at No1 Cromer on the sea front, where salted peanut butter and rhubarb and custard sit alongside traditional favourites.

Just a couple of miles west along the sandy beach sits Incleboro Fields Club Campsite, where the highest pitches enjoy arguably the finest views of any on the Club network. Set on a hillside and backed by woodland, the pitches gaze out to sea and the whirling blades of an off-shore windfarm. It’s a popular site with 241 pitches, but its wooded layout and multiple terraces across 21 acres mask its busy nature and amplify its tranquillity.

Its size does bring advantages when it comes to facilities, and not just in the four toilet blocks. Visited by fish and chip and Belgian waffle vans, and with a golf course, café, hotel, Thai takeaway and the superb Rocky Bottoms seafood bar within walking distance, Incleboro Fields has the feel of an all-inclusive site.

Family tradition dictates a visit to the neighbouring Hillside Shire Horse Sanctuary, where the gentle giants graze serenely in the pastures alongside rescued horses, ponies,

Buses from outside the gate make it easy for visitors to access Hunstanton and King’s Lynn, while pizza and fish and chip vans offer the prospect of a break from cooking four nights per week.

Of course the main attraction is Sandringham House, where a headsetguided tour highlights the green baize table at which the Queen likes to do her jigsaws,

Member view

Site view

Incleboro Fields, by Helen Dewhirst

Hunstanton cliffs

Sandringham House

the table mats that feature her winning racehorses and the ballroom that converts into the family’s Christmas cinema.

Visitors are only allowed access to 10 rooms, but they’re packed with treasures –some priceless, others poignant – including Union Flags carried by both Ernest Shackleton and Captain Scott to Antarctica, only one of whom survived their expedition. I find a bench in the 60 acres of formal gardens and gaze out over the giant trees

and immaculate lawns. It’s the perfect vantage point to reflect on East Anglia, with its extraordinary landscapes, waterscapes and ancient history – no wonder King Rædwald wanted to be buried here with all his treasures.

Walking App

This route visits two National Nature Reserves, a host of windmills, a sandy beach and the fabulous Broads on a 26-mile circular route from Norfolk Broads Club Campsite. The route is relatively long but the terrain is almost completely flat, while there are plenty of places to stop for refreshments, including a 1940s-themed cafe and a pub garden with wonderful views over Hickling Broad. For full directions and a map see the March 2020 digital edition of the Club Magazine via the app or on the Club website. You can also watch a video at youtube.com/CaravanandMotorhomeClub.

You can use the Outdooractive app to enjoy a variety of walking routes in the region. The basic app is free to use, but Club members benefit from a €10 discount on Pro or Pro+ first-year subscriptions. With the Pro version you receive features such as access to topographical maps and special activity networks, while Pro+ gives you 3D maps and more. To find out more and to see a collection of routes near Club sites, see camc.com/ outdooractive.

Illustration: Louise Turpin

National Trust Images/Justin Minns

Cycling | Norfolk

WATCH VIDEO ON THE APP

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Through this system, you can choose from four different levelling positions (level 1, level 2, tank drain, and stabilise), benefting from a touch-screen control panel, as well as manual adjustments to extend and retract.

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www.glide-rite.com

Birkenhead | 0151 638 8002

Jacksons Leisure Satellites www.jacksonsuk.com

Wakefeld | 01924 848 966

The Motorhome Depot

www.tmdmotorhomes.com

Worcestershire | 01527 656 50

Benefts of the HPC Hydraulic Self-Levelling System:

• Level in just 90 seconds

• Lightweight just 40Kgs

• Aluminium anodised jacks will not rust

• Easily change a tyre or ft snow chains

• Smart phone app control

• Modern touch screen operation panel

• 4 different level settings (level 1, level 2, tank drain, stabilise)

• No rocking on the suspension

• 12V or 24V

• Intelligent diagnostic history logging

• Take the weight off the wheels

• Doesn’t get stuck in the mud

• Lift up to 30 tonnes

• Maintenance free for 5 years (oil change)

The HPC motorhome automatic levelling system is extremely light weight, featuring jacks made from anodised aluminium.

SGM Towing

www.sgmtowing.co.uk

Cardiff | 02920 371 379

Newport Caravans

www.newportcaravans.co.uk

Newport | 01633 843 066

Hedley Towing Centre

www.hedley-towbars.co.uk

Durham | 0191 386 3972

The Motorhome Repair Centre

www.motorhomerepaircentre.com

Glasgow | 0141 773 1212

Top Of Town Motors

www.topoftownmotors.co.uk

Fishguard | 01348 874 234

It also features an emergency pump handle, so you can be sure never to fnd yourself stuck in a tricky situation with your motorhome. You can even download a special smart phone app to control it through a touch of a button.

Manual mode in the control panel (or on the app) simplifes activities such as changing a wheel, ftting snow chains, or operating the system from outside for any other reasons.

For more information or to arrange to see our demonstration vehicle, simply contact a member of our team directly.

Knights Of Arley

www.knightsofarley.co.uk

Coventry | 07584 866 050

Caravan & Motorhome Services

www.caravanandmotorhomeservices.co.uk

Caerphilly | 02920 850 789

CL SITES UPDATES

CL SITES

Also see the CL section of the Club website (camc.com) for the most up-to-date details on all CLs. Pitch fees may be subject to variation –please check with the CL owner before booking.

NOTE: CL entries are identified by a reference/map number in the 2021/22 Sites Directory & Handbook They are listed here using the same number, unless otherwise specified.

NEW CLS

ENGLAND

CHESHIRE

SANDBACH (2m S) – Winterley CL (formerly 42 Hassall Road), Mr John Shaw, 42 Hassall Road, Sandbach CW11 4RJ. 01270 767215; eshaw77@ hotmail.co.uk. 118:SJ754573; 53.113268, -2.372531. Open 1 Mar-30 Oct; 1 acre; adults only; dogs; hdstdng; 16A (metered); max o’fit length: 7.5mtrs; peaceful; wc (exc); shwr (exc); public trans, shop & pub in 1m; coarse fishing & golf in 5m; price fr £18 (pitch + 2 ad).

DEVON

KINGSBRIDGE (4m N) – Reveton View, Mr Dave and Mrs Ellie Ayre, Reveton Farm, Lower Reveton, Loddiswell TQ7 4RY. 01548 550241; 07518 010404; eayre90@outlook. com. 202:SX719494; 50.33124, -3.80061. OAY; 1 acre; dogs; adv bkg req; drive over waste disp for MH; grass; ideal for families; views; dog walk fr site; public trans, town, shop & pub in 1m; golf & watersports in 5m; price fr £10 (pitch + 2 ad).

LINCOLNSHIRE

BOSTON (3.4m NNE) – Willows Holt, Mr Alan Thompson, Willows Lane, Sibsey, Boston PE22 0TG. 07870 729243; 01205 750260; alchemyfarms@gmail.com. 131:TF343480; 53.012509, 0.000826. OAY; 0.5 acre; dogs; enhanced grass pitches with EHU with drinking water; 16A; price fr £16 (pitch + 2 ad).

NORTHUMBERLAND

ALNWICK (8m NW) – Eglingham Moor Farm, Mr J M Angus, The Terrace, Eglingham, Alnwick NE66 2UD. 07787 777748; 07508 593910; 07521 417251; rob_e_angus@live.com. 81:NU118197; 55.471548, -1.814681. Open 1 Apr-31 Oct; 0.75 acre; dogs; some sl pitches; levelling blocks req; grass; 16A; price fr £20 (pitch + 2 ad).

NORTH YORKSHIRE

PICKERING (4.4m NE) – Fox & Rabbit Holiday Cottages & Motorhome CL, Mr Adrian Hamilton, F & R Holiday Cottages, Whiteby Road, Lockton, Pickering YO18 7NQ. 01751 460201; 07748 657518; foxandrabbitcottages@ gmail.com. 100:SE845882; 54.282844, -0.70364. OAY; 0.35 acre; adults only; dogs; adv bkg req; drive over waste disp for MH; enhanced hdstdng pitches – EHU with drinking water; 16A; peaceful; views; self-catering accom on site; bar; rest; dog walk from site; public trans, town, shop & pub in 1m; price fr £25 (pitch + 2 ad).

SOUTH YORKSHIRE

DONCASTER (8.2m NE) –Mooreacres, Mr Oliver Newton, Remple Lane, Hatfield Woodhouse, Doncaster DN7 6NU.

07850 752359; olivern2525@ hotmail.com. 111:SE681084; 53.568198, -0.972809. OAY; 1.5 acres; dogs; grass; 16A; wc (sh); shwr (sh); price fr £20 (pitch + 2 ad).

WILTSHIRE

MALMESBURY (7m SE) –Great Somerford Caravan Site, Mr Michael Llewellen Palmer, Land Off Dauntsey Road, Dauntsey Road, Great Somerford SN15 5EL. 07970 264788; mike@greatsomerfordestate.co.uk. 173:ST961823; 51.540306, -2.057296.

Open 1 Mar-31 Oct; 4 acres; dogs; grass; peaceful; storage facs on site; dog walk fr site; public trans, town, shop & pub in 1m; game fishing, coarse fishing & golf in 5m; price fr £13 (pitch + all occ).

WORCESTERSHIRE

REDDITCH (8m S) – Black Pig Company, Mr Mark and Mrs Helen Bailey, Alcester Road, Inkberrow WR7 4HR. 01386 783464; 07810 436318; farm@blackpigcompany. co.uk; blackpigcompany.co.uk. 150:SP034581; 52.221624, -1.950489.

Open 5 Mar-31 Oct; 0.5 acre; dogs; hdstdng; grass; price fr £15 (pitch + 4 ad).

NORTHERN IRELAND

COUNTY DOWN

BALLYNAHINCH (2m SSW) – 30 Grove Road, Mr Thomas and Mrs Danielle Thompson, Ballynahinch BT24 8PW. 07709 278435; 07747 727739; tt7356759@gmail.com. 20:TF343480; 54.386302, -5.912243. OAY; 1 ac; dogs; adv bkg req; hdstdng; 10A (metered); price fr £15 (pitch + 2 ad).

UPDATES

IMPORTANT: Nightly fees may differ from those published in the Directory due to a change of facilities or ownership. It is therefore essential to confirm current fees when enquiring or making a booking. Not all CLs accompanied by a pub symbol in the Directory are located on the site of a public house – some are near to a pub (up to three miles away), so please check with the owner before visiting.

573 DURSLEY – The Beeches Caravan CL. New owner Mr D Wilkes; tel: 07947 369881; email: info@thebeechescaravanpark.co.uk. 677 LEOMINSTER – Rowley Farm. New email: jean.rowleyfarm@ btinternet.com.

1253 SHREWSBURY – Bank House Farm. Toilets no longer available. Mobile now: 07977 648973.

1976 CARDIFF – South Lodge. New email: rhodri.traherne@gmail.com.

DONCASTER – Sunnyview Mobile Home Park. No longer adult only. Added email for members: petersimmons.mobilehome @live.co.uk.

PWLLHELI – Rhedyn. Removed email

CLOSURES

The following five-pitch CLs are closed and no longer certified by the Club. This does not affect any other business that a landowner may be operating.

512 BURNHAM-ON-CROUCH – Motts Farm

630 LYMINGTON – Wayside

688 HITCHIN – Rose Farm

1390 BURY ST EDMUNDS –Lark Valley

2020 DENBIGH – Bryn Glas

1

Morges

(Site ref: S14)

This beautifully landscaped site on the banks of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) is within easy reach of Lausanne’s cultural attractions and restaurants, as well as the stunning Lavaux vineyards.

Pitches: 180

Site view

“There are a lot of nautical activities that guests can do here, including SUP and kayak. If they can tear themselves away from our beautiful Lake Leman they should hike to Mont Blanc or visit the vineyards to enjoy a good glass of our Chasselas wine. It’s also possible to rent electric bikes from the camping [site] to discover the area.” Charles-Edouard Girard

Food & drink

Brasserie de Montbenon, Allée

Ernest Ansermet 3, 1003 Lausanne

Contact: brasserie demontbenon.ch, 0041 21 320 40 30

Culture

Lavaux Vinorama, Rte du Lac 2, 1071 Rivaz

Contact: lavaux-vinorama.ch, 0041 21 946 31 31

Outdoor fun

Le Centre Thermal, Avenue des Bains 22, 1400 Yverdon-les-Bains

Contact: bainsyverdon.ch, 0041 24 423 02 32

For the family

Belle Epoque paddle steamer, Lausanne

Contact: cgn.ch/en/la-suisse. html, 0041 848 811 848

ALPINE ADVENTURES

Heidi Fuller-Love takes the scenic route through the lakes and mountains of Switzerland

With its lush green pastures, glorious lakes and picturesque villages, Switzerland is perfect for a touring holiday. It is, however, the most mountainous country in Europe, so the driving can be difficult! To make life easier for ourselves, we allowed a week to travel between our two campsites – from Lake Geneva to the Italian border.

We arrived at Morges campsite on a bright-but-chilly autumn evening. With wide, well-tended pitches, this site on the banks of Lake Geneva – or Lac Léman, as it is known here – is the perfect spot to recuperate following a long day’s driving.

After a lazy breakfast of coffee and meitschibei – a Swiss pastry in the shape of a horseshoe, stuffed with hazelnut paste – we took a pretty Belle Époque paddle steamer from Morges’ tiny port to Montreux. Once

there, we hiked around the lake, pausing to admire the statue of Freddie Mercury (who made Montreux his second home), before heading south to Chillon, the broodingly beautiful medieval castle that inspired Lord Byron to write The Prisoner of Chillon , one of his most famous narrative poems.

Leaving “Chillon’s dungeons deep and old”, it was a relief to hop aboard the red-and-white Train des Vignes (vineyard train) that trundled along the lake to the ‘Lavaux Vineyard Terraces’ – a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Painstakingly dug out of the steep hillsides during the 11th century, the vineyards are spectacular. We hiked along narrow footpaths through the levels of vines, admiring breathtaking views of the snow-topped Alps mirrored in the lake far below.

Eager to sample some of the (mainly white) wines that are produced here, we made a beeline for Lavaux Vinorama, a bright modern, museum where we learnt about production methods, enjoyed a tasting session

and then bought half a dozen bottles of crisp Louis Bovard Dézaley Grand Cru.

THE VERTICAL CITY

Parking in Swiss cities is often difficult and always expensive, so we left the van on site the following day and took the train to Lausanne, the regional capital.

Built on three hills that descend to the glittering Lac Léman far below, Lausanne is known as ‘the Vertical City’ because of its steep slopes. Luckily, it is also the only Swiss city with a metro system! Along with Lausanne’s clever system of lifts and staircases, this makes it a lot easier to get around.

It was a beautiful, warm day, so we lingered over breakfast on the terrace of the hip Brasserie de Montbenon, watching ferries puff across the lake to the French town of Thonon-les-Bains.

Although it’s quite small, Lausanne has several fascinating museums. Our first stop was the Collection de l’Art Brut, which is

home to 5,000 strange and exotic art works made by self-taught artists, prison inmates and patients from psychiatric hospitals. Founded by French painter Jean Dubuffet in 1971, the collection includes shell sculptures, paintings and costumes.

From here it was an easy bus-hop to Lausanne’s old town, where we strolled through narrow streets to reach the striking medieval cathedral with its stunning rose window, dating back to 1170.

Taking the Escaliers du Marché, a steep, covered medieval passageway that links the cathedral with Palud Square far below, we had a long, lazy lunch at Café du Grütli, one of the city’s oldest eating establishments, famed for its creamy fondues. Stuffed with cheese, we then made a beeline for the Olympic Museum down by the lake.

Before visiting Lausanne we were unaware that this tiny Swiss city has been the headquarters of the Olympic movement since 1914. We spent several absorbing

Camping Lugano

(Site ref: S10)

On the banks of Lake Lugano, this family-friendly site is well situated for discovering this lovely region or hopping into Italy. Facilities include a lakeside beach, a swimming pool and tennis court.

Pitches: 250

Site view

“In Lugano, there’s a very particular Italian lifestyle vibe – and yet you still feel 100% in Switzerland. The city on Lake Lugano is perfect for lovers of significant architecture... as well as anyone who likes to shop in style.”

Caroline Kälin

Food

& drink

Grotto Castagneto, Via Nevaca 20, 6979 Brè sopra Lugno Contact: grottocastagneto.ch, 0041 91 971 06 97

Culture

Cattedrale San Lorenzo –Lugano, Via Borghetto 2, 6900 Lugano

Contact: luganoregion.com, 0041 91 921 49 45

Outdoor fun

Lake Lugano boat tours

Contact: lakelugano.ch, 0041 91 222 11 11

For the family

Splash & Spa Tamaro, Via Campagnole 1, 6802

Rivera-Monteceneri

Contact: splashespa.ch, 0041 91 936 22 22

Vadim Khomyakov / Alamy

Eva Bocek / Alamy

Magnificent Lake Lugano

hours strolling around this enthralling attraction, which is home to the world’s largest collection of documents, films and paraphernalia relating to the Games, which were first held in Olympia in 776 BC.

FEEL THE BERN

After a night at the Hôtel des Voyageurs in Lausanne’s old town, we headed back to the site to pick up the van, before taking the picturesque route along the banks of Neuchâtel Lake to Bern.

Switzerland’s capital, built on a bend in the fast-flowing Aare river, is a compact city with some breathtakingly beautiful buildings, including the 13th-century Zytglogge tower, with its mechanical jester and bears that pop out of the clock every hour. We longed to stay – to visit the Einstein Museum and see the house where he lived in the 1900s; and to meet Finn, Björk and Ursina, the city’s three famous brown bears, at the Bear Park – but our next site was calling, so reluctantly we decided to save these delights for our next trip.

Leaving our hotel on the outskirts of town early the following morning, we headed for Interlaken. We meandered along Lake Thun, gawping at Oberhofen’s glorious lakeside castle, and then stopped at Beatenbucht to take the funicular up to Beatenberg for superb views over the lake to the snow-capped peaks of the 13,000ft-high Eiger mountain beyond.

We broke the journey again in Lucerne to walk over the Kapellbrücke, Europe’s oldest wooden covered bridge with its paintings dating back to the 17th century, and to snack on Luzerner Chügelipastete, a hearty local pie stuffed with veal, pork and onions.

To save time we took the A2 motorway from Lucerne to our final destination, Camping Lugano. Overlooking Lake Lugano, this lovely campsite was an ideal base for discovering the delights of southern Switzerland and northern Italy (Lakes Maggiore and Como are within easy reach).

Over the next few days, we explored charming Lugano and hiked through the Malcantone region, with its picturesque Ticino stone houses and rustic grotti taverns. On our last day in Switzerland we took the funicular to the top of Monte San Salvatore. Admiring breathtaking views over the lakes glittering beneath us like turquoise jewels was the perfect way to end our Swiss road trip.

MEMBER SINCE...

Motorhomer Heidi Fuller-Love joined the Club in 2017

From top: the worldrenowned Lavaux vineyards; Lausanne cathedral; Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux

David Mark, Swiss Tourism

Louise Turpin

Innovative pillow transforms lives of over 200,000 people!

ANEAR tragedy has led to an amazing new development in sleep technology. When Georgia Miles was recovering from a lifethreatening accident, her father Alexander looked everywhere for a pillow that would keep her comfortable throughout the night.

A er purchasing dozens of di erent types and nding none that worked, Alex, a renowned furniture and domestic product designer, decided to engineer his own.

UNIQUE BREAKTHROUGH

He made a breakthrough when he realised that all pillows spread out and atten down as the weight of the head rests on them. is attening progresses through the night, leaving the head and neck poorly supported – and sleep interrupted. is is why many people nd themselves half awake and ‘pillow-punching’ in the middle of the night, desperately trying to get comfortable.

EXTRA COMFORT AND SUPPORT

e innovative model that Alex designed has internal ties that hold the lling in place, and pull the pillow in and up to cradle the head and neck. is provides extra comfort and support that lasts through the night and ensures that you get the most bene t from an undisturbed sleep.

I can honestly say that your pillow has made the world of difference… and fully endorse your pillow as being quite unique in its ability to maintain support throughout the night.

Dr Deane Halfpenny

Street Consultant and Spinal Pain Specialist

MADE IN THE UK

Made in the UK, the Gx Pillow comes in a choice of two levels of support: Medium-so , which most people seem

to prefer, or Medium- rm for those who like a little more resistance. Alex’s desperate desire to help his daughter Georgia has led to a pillow that has also transformed the lives of thousands of people. So if you have spent a lifetime looking for the perfect pillow, your search may well be over!

INFORMATION: gxpillows/0800 316 2689

Alexander Miles, inventor of the Gx Pillow pictured with his invention

Harley

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands

Duration/type:

days escorted motorhome tour

Departs: 10

October 2022

Price: £5,899pp based on two sharing

Price includes: return flights, all transfers, three nights in centrally located hotels in Cairns and ydney including breakfast a welcome dinner 2 days aui ltima lus three-berth motorhome rental, 2 nights pre-booked campsites, Frankland Islands reef tour, Fraser Island tour ydney arbour unset inner Cruise local tour hosts.

Spectacular scenery, exotic wildlife, cosmopolitan

cities – the Land Down Under has it all. Why not join us on an escorted motorhome tour?

THE BEST OF

Reef, Beach and Mountains

We are offering you the opportunity to experience ustralia s incredible diversity on a -day escorted tour. xperienced guides will be on hand throughout as you take in the legendary reat Barrier eef walk along da ling white-sand beaches and witness the forests cliffs canyons and waterfalls of the Blue Mountains.

Following your flight your adventure begins at Cairns in tropical Far orth ueensland. aving settled into your hotel and met your fellow travellers for a

welcome dinner you will head for the Frankland Islands where a snorkelling experience gives you the chance to see magnificent corals brightly coloured fish sea turtles and giant clams.

Once you have collected your aui ltima lus three-berth motorhome you will then follow the coast south to Mission Beach and then Townsville. ou could stop at Ingham along the way to see one of the country s largest sugar cane mills and the extraordinary birdlife of the T TO etlands.

Byron Bay – a region famed for its beaches shopping and dining experiences – and Coffs arbour a great place for wildlife watching and home to the iconic Big Banana amusement park are next on the itinerary as you cross the state border into ew outh ales.

There are more delights to be witnessed at ort ac uarie try to spot whales and dolphins from the lighthouse and Lake ac uarie the largest saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere before you head into the glorious Blue Mountains.

By ay 0 you will have reached spectacular Airlie Beach, from which you can embark on a boat trip to the hitsunday Islands ad acent to the eef. hile in this beautiful region you could do the hitsunday reat alk seek out spectacular hitehaven Beach or take a crocodile-watching tour.

ou then head for ockhampton in the heart of the Fit roy Basin before making your way to ervey Bay. From here you could go on a whale watching tour before en oying a trip to Fraser Island – the only place on earth where rainforest grows in a sand dune environment.

From your base at atoomba you are within easy walking distance of the famous atoomba Falls Three isters rock formation and the cenic orld kyway – a aw-dropping cable-car line that passes 2 0m above ancient ravines.

our final day of driving takes you to the state capital of ydney. ou have three nights to unwind in ustralia s oldest and largest city so take the opportunity to visit iconic landmarks such as the arbour Bridge and Opera ouse before saying farewell to this incredible country in style with a unset inner Cruise around the famous harbour .

Sydney Harbour

When you’re ready to explore again, we’ll be with you every step of the way. We offer no Club cancellation or amendment fees, Covid refund*, and ABTA and ATOL** bonded financial protection on our Worldwide holiday range. Find out more at: camc.com/ worldwide

AUSTRALIA

The Great Ocean Road and Beyond

Take in wild beaches, spectacular rock formations and remarkable wildlife along the Great Ocean Road, explore exciting cities and enjoy a wine-tasting tour in the Barossa Valley on this once-in-a-lifetime Australian tour.

Your three-berth motorhome and all of your campsites are pre-booked, while you can call on the assistance of our experienced local tour hosts throughout your adventure – all you have to do is enjoy yourself.

Following your flight to Sydney, you will be transferred to your hotel on Darling Harbour for a three-night stay. Highlights will include a sunset dinner cruise around the famous harbour and lunch at ydney Tower s revolving restaurant.

You will then pick up your motorhome and head for Canberra, Australia’s capital city, before making your way south towards Melbourne. Here you will have three days to explore and we have included a trip on the Penguin Express, during which you will have the opportunity to watch these fascinating creatures making their nightly pilgrimage

* Covers holiday cancellations in line with FCDO advice. T&Cs apply * ATOL bonding only applies to flightinclusive holidays from our Worldwide holidays range

from the Southern Ocean to their burrows.

Then it’s on to the pretty coastal resort town of Torquay, your starting point on one of the most spectacular drives in the world – the Great Ocean Road. Stretching for more than 150 miles along the south coast, the road, which passes rainforest, windswept beaches, cliffs and rock formations, was built by soldiers between 1919 and 1932 as a memorial to those killed in the First World War.

Highlights will undoubtedly be the fishing port of Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles – magnificent limestone stacks that rise out of the ocean. After Warrnambool, you leave the Great Ocean

Road behind you and head for Mount Gambier, famous for a lake which changes colour from grey to an intense shade of blue depending on the season.

On day 19, you can either continue up the coast to Robe or head inland to the Naracoorte Caves National Park – one of the world s most important fossil sites.

As your journey draws to an end you'll pass through the Coorong National Park, whose saltwater lagoons are home to a range of wonderful birdlife.

To conclude your adventure you will spend three nights in the South Australian capital of Adelaide – and we have a final treat in store; a half-day wine tour in the Barossa Valley, during which you can raise a glass to your tour hosts and this exceptional country!

Duration/type: 25 days/escorted motorhome tour Departs: 8 November 2022 Price: from £5,399pp based on two sharing Price includes: return flights, all transfers, three nights in centrally located hotels in Sydney and Adelaide including breakfast, 16 days Maui Ultima Plus three-berth motorhome rental, 15 nights pre-booked campsites, Sydney harbour cruise with dinner, lunch at the Sydney Tower, Penguin Express trip, Barossa wine tour, farewell dinner, local tour hosts.

Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road

Naracoorte Caves

Cypsela, near Pals, Catalonia

Great savings on European trips

Look out for early-bird deals, special discounts, free nights and more...

t the Club we re always trying to find ways to make your money go further – and that applies to your overseas holidays too. There are fantastic offers available via hundreds of campsite partners during 2022 –here s a taste...

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS*

n oy up to 0 off if you book before ecember 202 and up to 20 off if you book before anuary 2022 at selected sites and on selected dates. ore than 00 campsites on our overseas programme offer arly Bird iscounts – in France check out the likes of u Clos de la Chaume Club ref 0 La enise erte Club ref or Le Ch teau de artragny Club ref 0 .

FREE NIGHTS*

ore than 200 of our campsite partners offer free nights – so you can stay longer for less. For example you could stay for seven nights at Le entoulou Club ref 2 in south-western France and pay for ust six. Or stay seven nights and pay for only five at Lou tit oun Club ref close to the panish border. If you fancy heading a little farther afield what about taking in

the views at Il Collaccio Club ref

2 This charming Italian site is offering a free night if you book seven nights or more at certain times of the season.

FREE EXTRAS*

DON T FORGET

PLEASE FOLLOW OFFICIAL TRAVEL GUIDELINES AND SEE CAMC.COM FOR FURTHER ADVICE

Find out more at: camc.com/confidence

ore than 0 sites across our network offer free extras such as drinks breakfasts special events access to sports facilities and swimming pools and more. Le omaine de assereau Club ref C in France for example offers six bottles of wine with any stay during low season if booked by ec 202 and free-night offers such as stay 2 nights or more and get seven free from an 2022 eanwhile uttopia allouise in the beautiful crins ational ark Club ref allows dogs to go free in low season offers free i-Fi and has a great early-booking discount.

Look out for great deals in our brochures camc.com/brochures and check out camc.com/ overseas-holidays/special-offers/ site-offers

Offers are applicable at selected sites and vary according to time and duration of stay and time of booking. Offers are sub ect to availability and can be withdrawn at any time.

Far left, from top: Le Domaine de Massereau, Occitanie, France (Club ref: C33); Lou P’tit Poun, Nouvelle Aquitaine, France (Club ref: A39); Huttopia Vallouise, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France (Club ref: M17); Au Clos de la Chaume, Grand-Est, France (Club ref: J08)

■ embers save an average of 0 when booking urotunnel or ferry crossings with the Club. hen you book a crossing and campsite at the same time you may also bene t from exclusive package deals. Overseas ite ight ouchers are available for those members who want the freedom to travel without pre-booking. isit camc.com/ con ence to nd out about package deals and our ackage Travel rotection.

■ on t forget insurance and emergency assistance cover for your holiday. The Club s ed ennant Overseas oliday Insurance is designed especially for you. ee camc.com/ redpennant

The Region of Murcia is situated between the inland mountains and the Mediterranean coast. This region is characterised by a landscape that is full of contrasts, an excellent gastronomy and welcoming people. A place where art, culture and tradition come together. With an annual average temperature of 190C and the unique chance of enjoying two diferent seas, the Mediterranean sea and the Mar Menor, the Costa Cálida ofers us more than 250 km of coastline for our delight. 3,000 hours of sunlight per year even allows us to go deep inland amidst the greenery of the mountains, ideal for the most diverse activities. Furthermore, the Region of Murcia is a perfect setting for relaxation and good health, with the mud baths and medicinal waters of the Mar Menor and the spas in the Fortuna and Archena areas renowned throughout the country. Make the most of the Region of Murcia. Region of Camp sites are OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND.

TOP 5 PLACES TO VISIT

1. THE CATHEDRAL

Not only is it the most important church in all of Murcia, the cathedral is also one of the most recognised symbols of the region. Steeped in more than 600 years of history and constructed on the site of the oldest mosque in the city, the cathedral is composed of a range of architectural styles, varying from Gothic, to Renaissance, to the perhaps grander Baroque. Explore the museum, climb the tower, contemplate its main façade and visit the Velez and Junterón chapels. Insider tip: the heart of King Alfonso X El Sabio is kept in an urn on the Altar Mayor.

2. THE ROMAN THEATRE

& ROMAN FORUM

Undoubtedly the most recognised symbol of Cartagena, fnd the Roman Theatre at the last stop of the fantastic museum tour. The building was designed by the architect Rafael Moneo. The Carthago Nova Theatre, constructed for Emperor Augusto in the 1st Century AC, has a capacity of 6,000 spectators, and was in fact only discovered by chance in 1987. If you love a trip back in time, a chance to relive history and to put yourself in the shoes of previous successors, you will be a child at play in the Foro Romano (Roman Forum) of the ancient Carthago Nova Theatre. It is an absolute privilege to be able to visit this site which remained hidden underground for more than twenty centuries; take note of the hot spring complex and the main atrium. If you pay a visit with all the family, you must stay for an in-house performance.

3. SIERRA ESPUÑA

The Sierra Espuña Mountain Range is one of the greenest and most dense landscapes of Murcia. It’s an ideal place to forget about problems and breathe pure air. Sierra Espuña has the largest forest of the Region of Murcia and one of the most emblematic natural environments; it is thanks to the eforts in

aforestation and reforestation carried out at the end of the last century for today’s green and dense forests.

4. BASILICA OF CARAVACA DE LA CRUZ & CARAVACA PILGRIMAGE WAY

Undoubtedly this is the heart of Caravaca and the core of a fortress which once belonged to the Order of the Temple and later to the Order of Santiago. Protected by a wall fanked with 14 turrets of distinct form and size, the basilica is home to the Santísima y Vera Cruz, a relic within fragments from the Cross upon which Christ died are safeguarded. It is a city that celebrates the Jubilee Year in perpetuity. Caravaca also has a large number of walking and biking trails and diverse pilgrimage routes that all join up here from diferent places across Spain and the Region of Murcia.

5. CALBLANQUE

The landscape of the Regional Park of Calblanque, is one of the best preserved in the whole region. It ofers a great combination of beach and mountain. The Regional Park of Calblanque is located on the most easterly point of the coastline. Despite its small size, there are a variety of geological structures and materials that can be found in Calblanque. As a result, it is possible to fnd fossil dunes, clifs, beaches, sedimentary rocks such as limestone or metamorphic rocks such as shale and phyllite.

Free complimentary travel insurance including Covid-19 cover in the Region of Murcia www.murciaturistica.es/en/covid_travel_insurance

SAVE WITH THE CLUB

Looking for that perfect Christmas gift? Then check out this selection of fantastic offers. Members have collectively saved over £2.7 million so far this year*

*January-September 2021

Feel-good gifts

Save 8% on the National Trust Gift Card

The National Trust looks after a plethora of much-loved places, and gift card purchases help fund its vital work. Next time you buy a National Trust gift card you could be contributing to the cost of cleaning a beach or restoring a footpath – it really makes a difference! Loved ones can redeem their gift cards at National Trust cafés and shops, and at the Trust’s online shop. They can also be used towards gift membership packs! Visit camc.com/nationaltrust for more information on this saving.

Save 20% at the RSPB Shop

Whether you’re looking for wrapping paper, crackers, cards or gifts, the RSPB has a range of products made with sustainability in mind – and you’ll be supporting the UK’s largest nature conservation charity at the same time! Find out more by heading to camc.com/rspbshop

Must-have tech

Stay connected with this BT Shop offer

Members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club can save 15% on BT Shop products, such as Whole Home Wi-Fi and BT’s baby monitors. More information can be found at camc.com/btshop

£10 off 4GEE Wifi Mini from EE

Do you want the convenience of Wi-Fi on the go while you’re touring? EE ’s 4GEE Wifi Mini gives you your own personal and secure Wi-Fi hotspot – see camc.com/ee for details.

Fantastic savings at Mobile Reborn

Mobile Reborn sells refurbished and pre-owned technical products and accessories – so if you’re after the likes of an iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy phone or smart watch this Christmas be sure to check it out. See camc.com/ mobilereborn to find out about a 10% discount for Club members.

Presents for pets

Treat your pooch at Ivy & Duke

Ivy & Duke sells luxurious, hand-made dog beds and accessories for your four-legged friends – so why not spoil them this Christmas? Club members can save 10% by visiting camc.com/ivy&duke

Save 15% with Doggy Bag

If you have had enough of doggy laundry such as wet, stinky towels, then Doggy Bag offers an alternative option – it absorbs more water than a regular towel and keeps mud, sand and dirt trapped inside! To find out more please see camc.com/doggybag

Gifts for adventure enthusiasts

Save up to £135 on Raleigh bikes

This Christmas, treat somebody special – yes, including yourself! – and claim your exclusive Raleigh member offer: a discount when purchasing an electric bike or even a balance bike for children. For more information please see camc.com/raleigh

Stock up on gear from Snow+Rock

If you are looking for snowsports clothing and gear or the perfect gift for a winter sports enthusiast, the Club’s member offer with Snow+Rock will give you 15% discount in-store and online. Find out more by visiting camc.com/snow+rock

Foodie favourites

Up to 20% off with Brilliant Gin

What makes the gin so brilliant? Well, according to Brilliant Gin, its down to the fine blend of botanicals and traditional production techniques. Find out more at camc.com/brilliantgin

Tuck in to festive hampers from Cornish Hamper Store

As a Club member you could save 10% when you treat your loved ones to a hamper from Cornish Hamper Store. Do they like Christmas-themed chocolates, traditional mince pies and other seasonal delights? Then go to camc.com/the-cornishhamper-store and discover the full range!

Stocking fillers

Savings on Young Driver gift vouchers

Give teenagers the chance to get behind the wheel of a real car before they’re legally allowed to take to the road. Government-approved driving instructors will teach youngsters how to start, steer, manoeuvre, reverse and park on a specifically designed road system with two-way traffic, roundabouts and road signs. Visit camc.com/ youngdriver to find out more and take advantage of a 20% discount.

Pick up a great touring gift at Dash4it

Dash4it, the online map superstore, offers member savings on maps, atlases, travel guides and outdoor accessories – so why not browse and select some presents for friends and family members? Find out more at camc.com/dash4it

Fantastic Club GIFT IDEAS

Thinking about buying gifts for friends and family? How about treating them to a Club membership, a night or two on a Club campsite or a break in our Experience Freedom glamping accommodation? For these and other fantastic gift ideas, see camc.com

Gift Membership

Treat friends or family to a Caravan and Motorhome Club Gift Membership Pack. As you know, membership of the Club gives you access to a huge network of CLs, campsites across the UK and Europe, our award-winning insurance and cover products, a legal helpline, technical advice, a 10% discount on Experience Freedom glamping, monthly issues of this magazine and much more!

The pack includes a copy of the Sites Directory & Handbook and useful information on how to enjoy Club services, plus an activation form so your gift recipient can activate their membership straight away.

As a thank you for ordering this Gift Membership Pack we will give you a free £10 Caravan and Motorhome Club voucher*.

Find out more at camc.com/gift

Club Gift Vouchers

Struggling to think of a present for someone who loves the great outdoors? Caravan and Motorhome Club Gift Vouchers are available in flexible denominations and redeemable against the following: 1. UK Club campsite fees** 2. Club membership Coming soon: in December we will be moving to digital e-vouchers. Watch this space!

Find out more at camc.com/vouchers

Experience Freedom Gift Vouchers

Did you know that the Club offers glamping accommodation at locations across the country – from glamping pods and cabins to rustic yurts and safari tents?

An Experience Freedom glamping E-Gift Voucher is the perfect treat for friends and family – perhaps giving them the chance to join you on your touring holidays (where restrictions allow)†.

To explore more of what Experience Freedom has to offer, head to experience freedom.co.uk. Find out more at camc.com/efvouchers

Lake District by Joanna Wisniewska

Your chance to have your say. The writer of our Star Letter will receive a £30 National Trust Gift Card

Send your letters to: enquiries@camc.com or magazine@camc.com

THE PATH TO HAPPINESS

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Like Enid Davies (Letters, November edition), I too do the majority of the towing of our caravan, while my husband goes to sleep! I often get surprised looks from people who do not expect to see a 70-plus female behind the wheel.

A FITTING TRIBUTE

Having just read Heidi Fuller-Love’s Foreign Touring article (October edition), it prompted me to write regarding a must-see for anyone visiting Normandy. The British Normandy Memorial was formally unveiled in June. It records the names of the 22,442 men and women killed on D-Day and at the Battle of Normandy. All the names are inscribed in stone with the commanding bronze D-Day sculpture of three British soldiers coming ashore and all overlooking Gold Beach. As Heidi says at the end of her article the freedoms we enjoy today are a result of all those heroes who fought throughout the Second World War.

In October my husband Chris and I finally completed the South West Coast Path walk, starting at Poole in Dorset (reverse order I know) and finishing at Minehead. It has taken us five years, delayed mainly due to the pandemic but also because the experience of finding a holiday cottage, B&B or static caravan park precisely where we wanted to start and finish our week-long walk was hard and the planning often drifted into the ‘too-difficult’ box! Eventually, we decided to buy a motorhome and, on the recommendation of a friend, joined the Club. What a difference this made to us! The path became a joy to walk. The many Club and CL sites were perfectly situated near the coast and just lovely to stay on. All were of a very high and consistent standard. Having had no previous experience of motorhoming, we soon became a complete fan of this lifestyle and can’t wait to start another bucket list adventure in our lovely ‘Mollie’. Anita and Chris Rigler, via email

The only two accidents we have ever had was, once, when my husband decided he’d share the load and clipped another caravan before we’d even left the campsite, and when he guided me sideways into a small tree! He immediately confessed to it being his fault, which was lucky for him!

Heather Godwin, via email

Editor s note: Don t forget that the Club runs caravan towing and motorhome manoeuvring courses for experienced tourers and newcomers alike – visit camc.com/training.

Neil Butterworth, via email

ALL THE RANGE

I was interested to read about the Little Green Tour which the Club has been involved in. However, it would be really helpful in future Towcar of the Year awards if you could advise what the mileage the electric vehicles typically achieve when towing. This would at least give individuals an understanding of how many, possibly expensive, charges they will have to schedule in at service stations and understand the impact on their schedule.

With EVs being the future of motoring for the majority, we need to be informed of all the benefits and disadvantages of these new vehicles. Keep up the informative articles, preferably warts and all!

Chris Evans, via email

Editor s note: Thanks for your comments Chris – we are constantly looking at how cars are appraised for Towcar of the Year, and range will be a consideration where electric vehicles are concerned in the future.

TWO DOWN –JUST 28 TO GO

My wife Maria turned 30 this year and made a list of 30 things to do in her 30s. One was to get a dog and another was to climb a mountain. We stayed at Rhydywernen Farm CL, which was superb, and walked the 14-mile round trip from there up Pen y Fan and back with our 15-week-old puppy, Chester. We just had the most amazing time.

Tim and Maria Grainger, via email

A fantastic weekend

We stayed at Burrs Country Park Club site, mainly to go to a Genesis concert at the AO Arena in Manchester, in September 2021, and what a great weekend we had. The site is only a 25-minute walk to Bury Interchange with regular trams into Manchester, so getting to the concert was easy. We did get a taxi back to the site from the tram station after midnight but that was only £7.

The site is in a fantastic rural location – you would not believe that you were so close to town.

The East Lancashire Railway passes the site, with a station about 200 yards from the entrance. Members get two for one tickets so a

day out on the train for two was only £14.50. The sound of steam trains chuffing past the site was so relaxing. Bury town centre was really interesting as well, especially the market and the Transport Museum (free entry).

On the Sunday we walked round the country park itself, which is in a really lovely area with riverside and canal-side walks and lots of fascinating history, then came back home after what must be the best ice cream in Lancashire at the farm down the road from the site (Jersey Girls). So, all in all a great weekend away. We could not recommend this place enough and will be back.

Des and Ches Yates, via email

Your mag needs you!

We would love to hear about your previous adventures and plans for the future!

Please email us at magazine@camc.com

The caravanning generation game

These are photos of my Dad’s first caravan, a Thomson Glenalmond circa 1960. He towed this with a Wolseley 4/44 which was his pride and joy. We didn t have the luxury of pumped water nor electricity. The bedding was heavy blankets – not for us lightweight sleeping bags!

However, we loved our holidays as children and went on to having a caravan of our own and taking our children away in it. Now the children are grown up and do the same with theirs. We love all meeting up with children and grandchildren and making new memories for them to cherish and possibly pass down [once again].

It’s also amazing to think how far technology has changed things. No more gas mantles, carrying water or heavy blankets for us!

Kay Rennie, via email

SO MANY MEMORIES...

While tidying out I came across these photographs. I’m the one on the left carrying the water, my sister is on the right. It took me right back in time to the late 1940s, such fun – gas mantles etc.

My father thought that it was hilarious to park his Austin Seven AMA 157 in front of the caravan so that it looked as if the car was towing the caravan. So many memories. Still enjoying the camping lifestyle, now in a campervan.

Ann Gillies, via email

ANYONE OUT THERE?

We have been members for just over a year and recently changed from our Chausson 611 motorhome – called Brian – to our demountable ‘Elsie’.

Demountables are not an overly common site on the roads or sites in the UK but are gaining in popularity. We wondered how many other demountable owners were members of the Club. Tina and Steve Ingamells, via email

A life in caravanning

I wanted to write to thank you for making me a life member recently – I felt like royalty when the news sank in! Belonging to the Club has taken me to so many places, with the adventures starting when my son was a baby and my late husband, Jonathan, and myself bought a Sprite Alpine. Now my grandchildren have just returned from holiday with my son in their own van and are, of course, also part of the Club.

We bought the Sprite Alpine in 1970 and kept it for 22 years, altering its interior to suit our two growing children. We towed it 33,221 miles and slept 622 nights in it (site fees £970.71). It was very basic, with gas mantles, no hot water and what can only be described as an origami toilet compartment which blocked the door when it was being used!

We then changed to a Swift Danette, travelling 4,367 miles and sleeping 44 nights in it (site fees £143). That was superseded by a Swift Challenger nine months later which we kept for 15 years, clocking up 36,151 miles and 760 nights (site fees £5,124.40). In March 2008 we bought an Abbey Freestyle which I still have and still looks new. To date it has been towed 15,751 miles and I have slept in it 306 nights. It is parked in front of my house – where all the others were kept – and I see it through the window first thing every morning. This is a daily pleasure as I wonder where I might go to next. Caravanning has been a very important part of my adult life and being in the Club facilitated that. I know all the statistics from our trips as I started a log book in 1970 and am now on book number 29!

Susan Beatty, Holmfirth

Renowned for great-value outdoor clothing, Atlas For Men also knows the tricks of the trade when it comes to making supercomfortable and practical nightwear.

Take these soft, jersey cotton pyjamas and you’ll soon understand why! As we do for each and every garment we create, whether outerwear or cosy loungewear, we put great energy and passion into creating the most comfortable clothing for your money.

Both PJ sets include a long sleeve top with a ribbed crew neck, with one design featuring a fantastic wolf print, and the other stylish stripes and a classic 3-button placket. And, for total comfort, both trousers have an adjustable drawstring waist. Plus, they’re 100% fully breathable cotton – so no man-made fibre here!

Info: nvr.org.uk; Overton (Ferry Meadows) to Wansford costs £4

one-way)

Stay: Ferry Meadows Club Campsite

“ Holidaymakers wait at smart bistro tables in what could be a scene from Brief Encounter ”

Track

and field

LJonathan Manning explores the tranquil Nene Valley by train and on foot

ooking around the carriage, it’s remarkable how happy the passengers seem.

No one is cursing a poor Wi-Fi signal or scowling at a noisy neighbour, and there are no awkward stand-offs over seating or who is taking up too much space at a table; just smiles and patient pauses in the aisle to give dogs a quick pat or let roving toddlers pass. Is this how train travel used to be in the era of steam, the rhythmic clickety-clack from the tracks inducing in passengers a sense of calm, with occasional toots from the engine reminding them that it’s the journey that counts, not the destination?

Or is this contentment simply due to an overdose of nostalgia on a day of bright blue sky with only the faintest icing sugar puffs of cloud? This is the Nene Valley Railway heritage line, and the idyllic Overton station is barely five minutes’ walk from Ferry Meadows Club site in Peterborough. Milk churns and a heavy leather trunk adorn the platform, a large clock hangs above the ticket office, and the only things brighter than the dazzling flowerbeds are the smiles of the volunteers manning the station.

Even a last-minute switch from the scheduled steam train to a heritage Class 14 diesel locomotive appears not to have dinted the mood of the passengers. I suspect they would be smiling even if they were directed onto a replacement bus service, so long as it were a vintage double-decker with a smartly dressed conductor on the rear step. Up and down the platform, holidaymakers and Sunday walkers wait on benches and at smart bistro tables, in what could be a scene from Brief Encounter. Only the branded ice-creams and bottles of cola place the scene in the 21st century.

The Nene Valley Railway has appeared in several famous films, including two Bonds (Octopussy and GoldenEye) and Murder on the Orient Express, but there’s no drama as the train rolls punctually into the station. It is, though, a novelty to watch a passenger lean out of the window and press down on the handle to open the door, a reminder of how much automation we take for granted.

Once on board, the choice is between an open carriage and a smaller, six-seat compartment, but with two dogs in tow, we decide the former is easier. We sadly don’t manage to glimpse the afternoon teas being served in the dining car, tiered

Steam train crossing a bridge over the Nene

Alamy/Thomas Stobbs

FULL STEAM AHEAD

Three more circular rail-and-footpath routes

RAVENGLASS AND ESKDALE RAILWAY

BOOK ON THE APP

At the end of the seven-mile train journey from Ravenglass to Eskdale in Cumbria, walkers face a difficult choice: climb England’s tallest mountain, Scafell Pike, or follow a lower-level route back to Ravenglass.

Info: ravenglass-railway.co.uk

Stay: Dockray Meadow Club site

SNOWDON MOUNTAIN RAILWAY

Nowhere does a train take the strain as much as on this tiny gauge railway that defies gravity as it climbs three-quarters of the way to the roof of Wales.

Info: snowdonrailway.co.uk

Stay: Riverside Touring Park Affiliated Site

NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY

Hug the coastal dunes on the Poppy Line train from Sheringham to Weybourne, before walking a mile north to the sea and following the beach back to where you started.

Info: nnrailway.co.uk

Stay: Incleboro Fields Club site

“ Overton station is barely five minutes’ walk from Ferry Meadows Club site ”

stands of sandwiches, scones and cakes lending a Ritz-style glamour to the journey for a lucky few.

Mind you, it would take a gargantuan appetite to polish off all that food in the time we’re on board. Our destination, Wansford, is only 15 minutes down the track, but it’s enough time to get a flavour of the six-mile walk back to the Club site we’ve planned, which will follow the River Nene.

There’s no doubting the star turn at Wansford station, where a bright blue ‘Thomas’ engine resides in a siding. This 1947 steam engine spent its working life at the British Sugar Corporation factory in Peterborough, where it was used to transport sugar beet. It was moved to the Nene Valley Railway in the 1970s and has been delighting visitors young and old ever since.

GET INTO YOUR STRIDE

From Wansford we start our walk home, crossing the rail bridge and picking up the riverside path. Waymarkers offer different routes back to Ferry Meadows, giving options if the Nene has burst its banks. The heavy thrum of traffic on the nearby A1 is hard to ignore, but we’re swiftly distracted by the shadows of a pair of kites wheeling effortlessly above the fields.

Navigation is easy with the river to guide us and Nene Way markers to confirm our decisions, freeing us to enjoy the walk.

The dogs snuffle through the rushes and are transfixed by a trio of swans on patrol, followed by a canoeist paddling slowly upstream. They’re on particularly tight leads by this point, having earlier disgraced themselves by trying to feast on anglers’ open bait boxes.

There’s no urgency in the slow-flowing Nene, and we follow its leisurely curves, occasionally pausing to admire an open stretch of water or pick the last of the year’s blackberries from its banks. In places the path disappears into a tunnel of hedge and bramble, before opening again to gorgeous river views, where the squeals of excited swimmers echo along the waterway. Closer to Ferry Meadows, a beautiful bank of broadleaf woodland conceals the village of Alwalton, the final resting place of Sir Henry Royce, of Rolls-Royce fame.

Suddenly, a distant toot breaks our reverie. Striding out, we’re quickly in a prime position to watch the train trundle past, on a track bed several feet above the flood plain. We exchange waves with the passengers, wondering which of them will be following the same dreamy trail back to Ferry Meadows.

Christmas crackers

Jane McGowan checks out a range of festive goodies

Lakeland Campervan Gingerbread Cookie Kit

What could be a more festive activity for the touring fan than making your own gingerbread outfit? This wonderful set from Lakeland offers you and the family a chance to indulge in some Christmas creativity before tucking into a tasty treat. It contains everything you need to get started: four pre-baked gingerbread panels, icing and pens, decorative gumdrops, candy lights and a plastic base on which to display your finished masterpiece! Please check the Lakeland website regarding any food allergies/intolerances.

RRP: £12.99

Size: 20cm (L) × 8cm (W)

11.5cm (H)

Contact: lakeland.co.uk

Tentree Nomad Cotton Classic T-Shirt

If you are looking for a fashionable and sustainable gift for a male adventurer, this T-shirt from Tentree is ideal. The brand is proud of its eco-friendly credentials, and lives up to its name by planting 10 trees for every item sold. Made from recycled polyester and organic cotton, it features a retro dashboard motif, and is available in a choice of colours.

RRP: £34.95

Contact: tentree.co.uk for retro is

MEMBER OFFER

Member offer: save 15% (see camc.com/ cotswoldoutdoor for details and terms and conditions)

Size: XXL

Colour: moss green heather, pinecone brown

Personalised Caravan Storage Jar

Available from the Personalised Gift Shop, this useful jar is perfect for the home or caravan/motorhome kitchen. Boasting an air-tight wooden lid, the ceramic container is ideal for storing a range of dry goods, such as biscuits, pasta or even doggie treats. The stylish jar features a traditional caravan motif, and you can specify the wording you would like – a name, a dedication, or both. A thoughtful and useful gift that also comes in at a nice price.

RRP: £19.99

Size: 14.5cm (H) × 9.5cm (D)

Contact: personalisedgiftsshop.co.uk

FatFace Camping Kit

FatFace offers a range of cool camper-themed gifts, from socks and T-shirts to air-fresheners – great for filling that stocking. This camping kit in a tin contains a handy selection of self-sufficiency must-haves, including: an LED torch; a compass with clip; and a multi-tool that boasts not only eating utensils but an all-important corkscrew too. This is a fun yet practical present for any lover of the great outdoors.

RRP: £16

Contact: fatface.com

Prima Retro Fridge Magnets

Brighten up your kitchen (either home or away) with this cute collection of fridge magnets. Coming in a range of vintage campervan and caravan designs, the pastel images conjure a wonderful world of happy holidays and memories made. They would make a great stocking filler, either individually or as a set of four.

RRP: £2.99 (available for £2.69 through Club Shop; see shop.camc.com for details and terms and conditions)

Size: 8cm (L) × 6cm (H) each

Contact: primaleisure.com

That’s Nice That Personalised Motorhome Doormat

This personalised doormat comes from That’s Nice That – a small Leicestershirebased company that launched from a garden shed – and is available via the Not on the High Street website. Made from hardwearing coir, each mat can be personalised to include two lines of text in different styles. Suitable for use in the awning or outside the motorhome, these mats are a useful and fun Christmas present.

RRP: £34.95

Size: 60cm (L) × 40cm (W)

Contact: notonthehighstreet.com

FROM SOURCE TO

Philip Moon traces the River Thames – by boot, boat and bike – from a field in Gloucestershire to the Essex coast

The dark and dingy days of last year’s winter lockdown gave me plenty of time to dream and scheme. An idea – a fantasy at first – evolved into a plan: to follow the River Thames from its source in

Gloucestershire to Shoeburyness in Essex by boot, boat and bike. A journey of some 215 miles, I decided to break it down into a series of stages over the spring and summer months.

For the first two stages, undertaken in April and early May, I based myself at the Club’s fantastic Cotswolds site at Burford.

London’s Tower Bridge with Canary Wharf in the distance

Meadows near Lechlade

Stage 1

KEMBLE TO BUSCOT

The official source of the Thames is marked by a stone in a field somewhere near Kemble in Gloucestershire. There wasn’t a trickle of water to be seen there, but I soon found a puddle, then some swampy bits and finally a definite stream began to emerge, which I was able to follow on foot to Cricklade, my end point for Day 1. In theory you can canoe to Buscot from Cricklade, but I’d heard reports that the river might be blocked by fallen trees, so I decided to stick to shanks’ pony for Day 2. The weather was lovely and, as I approached Lechlade in the late afternoon, the riverside pubs were crowded with people enjoying their newly restored freedoms. On I plodded past St John’s Lock, the first lock along the Thames, towards my end point in Buscot. Along this stretch are the first of the pillboxes that were built on the north bank of the river as a line of defence during the Second World War – thankfully they were never put to use.

SEA

For this stage I’d had the benefit of my wife’s support as chauffeur. For most of the rest of the way, I’d be on my own, which would involve some nifty shunting around, either using public transport or taking my car to the end point and then cycling back to start my day’s walking or canoeing.

Stage 2 BUSCOT TO OXFORD

I had intended to canoe to Oxford, but the weather was poor so I opted instead to walk for the first two days of this stage. En route I encountered a woman walking her dog, and I explained what I was doing. “Gosh,” she exclaimed, “I hope I can do things like that when I’m old!” She must have thought I was at least 80... whereas in fact I’m just a very wrinkly 69! Hurrah! On Day 3 I finally made it on to the river with my canoe. Apart from the weather, the most daunting aspect was negotiating the locks. When they are open you can simply ‘lock through’; otherwise you have to get out and ‘portage’ (carry your vessel) around them. Finding the best place to land and relaunch isn’t easy. I prefer a gentle sloping bank for both – alas not always available. Eventually I developed a technique for scaling ladders and hauling my canoe up after me. This involved wedging my paddle (attached to the boat by a cord) through the top of the ladder and heaving myself out and up – a task both precarious and difficult as in recent years my power:weight ratio has swung decidedly towards ‘weight’. Relaunching was often worse and could involve a drop of up to a metre if the water levels were low. Anything more than 18in had me terrified.

Stage 3 OXFORD TO WALLINGFORD

Two days’ canoeing to Wallingford at the end of May went quite well. With sunny spells and a gentle breeze (mainly from a friendly direction), it was a predominantly pleasurable experience!

Iffley Lock

The Thames at Oxford

The source of the Thames

Stage 4 WALLINGFORD TO MAIDENHEAD

In early July I took to the river again, this time using the Club’s Henley Four Oaks site as my base. It started badly and I didn’t manage to launch until 5pm; it was getting dark by the time I reached Pangbourne at the end of Day 1. I was wet, cold and a touch despondent. However, I was not the first to arrive in such a state, for it was here that Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat abandoned their Thames trip in favour of a train back to London and the comforts of home.

The next day I decided to take it easy and walk the stretch to Reading, but Days 3 and 4 were spent in the canoe, making good progress via Henley on to Maidenhead. Summer brought more boats and greater numbers of people enjoying themselves. A group of 30-something women, elegant in long, sleeveless dresses, sat on the rear deck of one craft chatting happily and sipping bubbly. They kindly offered me a glass. “Is this a hen party,” I enquired, “or just the normal way of spending a Friday afternoon?”

Stage 5

MAIDENHEAD TO TEDDINGTON

For the next stage I based myself at a non-Club site in Chertsey, which was situated right on the bank of the Thames. This time I was lucky enough to be accompanied by my friend John, who acted as wingman and ferried me about as necessary.

In late July the weather was incredibly hot. I watched with some consternation as my legs turned from beigey-white through rosy pink to roaring red. But after so much rain in the preceding weeks I wasn’t going to complain.

Day 1 took me through Windsor to Datchet. The Royal Standard flying over the castle indicated that the Queen was in residence. Unfortunately there wasn’t time to drop in for tea.

Day 2 started with a problem. I’d lost the key to the padlock with which I’d secured the canoe the night before. Directed to the nearest

DIY store to buy a pair of bolt croppers, we were interviewed by a manager to ascertain that we weren’t planning a burglary! Despite our masks, we were allowed to make the purchase. Cutting through the padlock chain turned out to be alarmingly easy.

That day ended at Chertsey. The site had its own launching and landing facility, but it was down a backwater that turned out to be heavily silted. On stepping out of the canoe, I sank up to my thighs in mud and rotting vegetation, ripping one of my sandals apart – unpleasant, but not disastrous.

The next day took me on past the magnificent Hampton Court Palace and on through Kingston upon Thames to Teddington Lock. Again, it was a glorious day, and, as I approached Teddington on the outskirts of London, the banks were alive with youngsters enjoying a dip.

Hampton Court Palace

The river at Reading

Stage 6

TEDDINGTON TO SHOEBURYNESS

From Teddington, the Thames is tidal. I had heard warnings about the dangers: ‘Only for experienced canoeists’; ‘Carry a VHF [very high frequency] radio’; ‘Watch the tides’. Discretion being the best cover for cowardice, my final stage would be by boot and bike. An afternoon’s walking took me the 12 miles or so from Teddington through Richmond, Kew and Barnes to Putney, from where I took a Thames Clipper across the capital to my hotel for the night, close to Tower Bridge.

Next morning, it was another short Clipper trip to Greenwich to begin my cycle ride to Gravesend in Kent. Beyond Woolwich the posh riverside residences give way to more industrial sites and smells. From Gravesend I caught the passenger ferry across the river

to Tilbury in Essex – free passage with my old folks’ bus pass!

It was then a short hop by train to get me back on a cycle route at Leigh-on-Sea, with just eight miles remaining. On I pedalled, through Southend where the invigorating smell of sea air gives way to the sickly aroma of candyfloss, and finally to the more genteel Shoeburyness – my final destination, where the river flows into the Thames Estuary: a very different landscape from the start of my journey.

‘Source to Sea’: I’d made it. My mind turned to future trips. Perhaps the Dordogne...

MEMBER SINCE...

Caravanner Philip Moon joined the Club in 2016

CLUB SITES KEY

1 irencester ark 2 urfor

3 enley our aks 4 yatts o ert

5 rystal alace 6 bbey oo

rom top: hilip s bike at Shoeburyness the pier at Southen on Sea ie from the on on ye

Louise Turpin

A garden bumblebee flies towards a foxglove flower

Nature’s gifts

Stuck for present ideas for the wildlife-lover in your life? David Chapman offers some tried-and-tested pointers

Imust admit that I enjoy giving presents more than receiving them: if I’m given something I’m not keen on, my face usually gives the game away. Consequently, I’m quite happy to receive socks these days – at least they are useful! However, I don’t think it is difficult to come up with a variety of ideas for anyone who has an interest or hobby, particularly if it is nature-related. I hope the following pages give you a few ideas in the run up to Christmas.

My wife, Sarah, has developed a passion for bees. While she has no plan to keep these intriguing insects, she is fascinated by them and wants to do what she can to support them. So a ‘gift membership’ of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust seemed like the perfect present.

Of course, organisations such as these often sell lovely gifts as well, profits from which go back into the charity. Another idea is to sponsor or adopt an animal for your loved one, perhaps through a local zoo, or a larger organisation such as the WWF. The gift recipient will often receive updates throughout the year and learn about how their chosen animal is being supported.

INSECT INTEREST

The internet offers a convenient way to research and buy presents related to all sorts of interests. A simple search for ‘bee gift ideas’ brought up mugs, clothing, ornaments for the garden and general knick knacks.

I like the idea of buying lots of smaller gifts because if one thing doesn’t quite hit the mark there are other presents to open! And,

“ My wife, Sarah, has developed a passion for bees ”

LOOK OUT FOR

There probably won’t be any bees out and about this month, but you might spot these.

■ Black guillemots in their winter-plumage can be seen on rocky coastlines and sometimes seek the sanctuary of harbours.

■ The bright orange berries of sea buckthorn can be found on sand dunes and rough ground near the ocean.

■ Peer underneath the rotten bark of a fallen log to see the impressive natural art – or ‘galleries’ – created by bark beetle larvae.

of course, if you are buying gifts for someone interested in nature of any form, there are so many potential ideas.

When shopping for a nature-lover, you could think about how they might support wildlife at home. For Sarah, I purchased a selection of wildflower seeds, including a variety of foxgloves, and a potted ceanothus bush, in order to attract bees to our garden.

HANDY HINT

While the internet offers endless gift ideas, there is always something special about making a gift by hand. My pièce de resistance was an insect house that now provides refuge for bees in our garden.

I cut up lots of bamboo canes, and drilled holes in bits of wood, block and brick, then assembled all the bits within a house-shaped frame ready to hang on the outside wall of the shed.

You can always buy ready-made insect houses online and in the shops. Along similar lines, bird-lovers may appreciate a bird bath, house or feeder. To really get up close and personal, nest boxes with cameras inside make extra-special gifts. More unusual ideas for those who want to observe wildlife close to home include moth traps (which use a light source to attract insects without harming them), hedgehog houses, and bat boxes and detectors.

Many of us enjoy receiving books at Christmas and new titles are always coming to the market, from identification guides to nature-based prose. Meanwhile, a trail camera

– designed to capture images when it detects the movement of an animal – or binoculars are , with a great presents for those who like to observe wildlife from different perspectives.

You could also book a trip or buy vouchers towards visiting an area known for a particular species (red squirrels or puffins, for example).

The bee-related presents I bought for Sarah earned me a lot of brownie points. The one thing I didn’t buy for her was a pair of socks! What an omission – there are some smashing socks out there with bees on...

MEMBER SINCE...

Motorhomer David Chapman joined the Club in 2000

Ceanothus flowers are great for attracting insects such as this honeybee

Sarah, with an assortment of bee-related gifts

With thanks to

Chichester Caravans , Uckfield, for the loan of Towcar Test caravans. See chichester-caravans. co.uk, call 01825 764151 or email uckfield@chichestercaravans.co.uk

Above: the Alltrack is more ruggedlooking than the regular estate

Below and opposite: smart switchgear and materials plus useful features including a parking camera

Inside track

Lesley Harris i es us the lo o o ol s a e s Golf Alltrack – a cross between an estate and an SUV

An SUV is not the first choice of towcar for everyone, so what options are available if you need a practical family car with four-wheel drive?

Well, you could take a look at the new Volkswagen Golf Alltrack. First launched in 2015, the Alltrack is a standalone model in the Golf line-up, with VW pitching it as a crossover between the Estate and an SUV.

COMFORT

It is definitely more rugged in appearance than the regular estate, with distinctive front and rear bumpers, chunky wheel arch protection and side skirt protection. The Alltrack has also been given an extra 15mm ride height, allowing more ground clearance for off-road driving.

At the front, it proudly sports the Alltrack badge along with LED ‘Plus’ headlights. And there’s a nifty LED light strip that extends across the radiator grille, creating continuous illumination between the headlamps. Another smart feature is the ‘X’ formation of LED front fog lights. Chrome trim and roof bars finish off the look.

Once inside, apart from the logo-clad seats and steering wheel, it’s pretty much standard Golf fare. The seats are supportive and well bolstered, keeping you snug while driving.

And there’s plenty of room for both driver and passenger, with lots of adjustment in both seat and steering wheel.

Interior materials are decent up front and, as in all Golf variants, the dash is dominated by the large, 10in touch-sensitive infotainment screen.

The Alltrack comes with all the same tech as you get in the hatch: digital cockpit, DAB radio, cruise control, sat-nav etc. There’s also wireless or USB-C charging depending on your device, and, of course, a host of safety features, such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Side Assist and Travel Assist.

In the rear, passengers will be pleased with the amount of space on offer. There’s loads of head and leg room, the middle seat is comfortable, and there’s plenty of foot space too. However, you’ll quickly notice the distinct lack of premium materials used at the back, with hard plastics in evidence from the tops of the doors to the centre console.

DRIVING

As the Alltrack is a unique model, there are no engine and gearbox options: it comes with Volkswagen’s tried-and-tested 2.0TDi unit, offering 197bhp and 400Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox, so there is plenty of power on tap when needed. It also gets the 4MOTION 4WD system as standard – which will help you on muddy pitches or snow-covered tracks!

“ The Alltrack has an extra 15mm ride height ”

Clockwise from right: elegant lines; plenty of power for towing; at the back there is lots of room but it feels less luxurious; easily adjustable seats

TECHNICAL

Price as Tested:

£42,575 Insurance

Group 26

Engine:

1,968cc, 4-cyl, in line, diesel Power:

197bhp (149kW)

@3,500rpm

Torque:

400Nm (295lb ft)

@1,750rpm Transmission:

7-spd DSG automatic

Spare Wheel:

Tyre inflation kit

Kerbweight: 1,609kg

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2,120kg

Gross Train Weight: 4,120kg

Noseweight Limit: 80kg

Towing Equipment:

Electric towbar (£795)

Fuel /tank /test econ:

Diesel/11 gals (50 litres)/56.8mpg solo, 30mpg towing 1,415kg

CO2 : 147g/km

Figures from manufacturer s literature

RATINGS

“ The 4MOTION 4WD system will help you on muddy pitches or snow-covered tracks ”

It’s reassuringly Golf-like to drive, so there are no major surprises. And even with the increased ride height, it still maintains composure on some of the twistier roads. Slogging through town traffic won’t give you too much trouble either; great visibility and nicely weighted steering make tight manoeuvres easy.

Our test car was fitted with optional 18in wheels, and the ride was a little harsh, especially over rougher surfaces. On smoother asphalt, it was fairly comfortable but, again, larger tyres produced noticeable road noise.

TOWING

When it came to towing, the Alltrack didn’t behave as well as anticipated. Again, it could have been due to the large wheels, but the ride when hitched was fairly bouncy at lower speeds, and there was more movement in the caravan than hoped for. It didn’t improve much on the open road: on the faster A roads, it felt strangely vague and not very reassuring; and on the motorway, there was too much buffeting by passing vehicles or when overtaking. However, the engine delivered its power smoothly and efficiently, hauling the

caravan up steep inclines without missing a beat. And overtaking was easy enough despite the slight swaying.

The boot is a great size and will hold all your family caravanning luggage and some, with 611 litres rising to 1,642 litres with seats folded.

VERDICT

If you really need four-wheel drive and don’t want an SUV, then the Alltrack is worth a look. But, for many, the regular estate would be a better option. You’ll save yourself around £4k on the list price, and benefit from better fuel economy (although I still achieved better-than-average fuel figures on this test).

If your vehicle has won any Towcar of the Year category since 2015, youʼll automatically get a 10% discount on both new and renewing car insurance through the Club. Visit camc.com/towcar and camc.com/insurance/car-insurance for more information and terms and conditions.

Long life

Nick Harding stretches out in Bilbo’s long-wheelbase Volkswagen camper

Before you hand over money to a company that is about to build your dream campervan, it’s vital you do your research on its overall dimensions. You might want to consider the room that a longwheelbase version of Volkswagen’s

T6.1 Transporter gives you – as provided by this Celex from Surrey-based converter Bilbo’s. It may only be some 40cm longer than the standard short-wheelbase model, but boy does that make a difference in a campervan.

Celex long-wheelbase prices start at just under £50,000, but that’s for the model based on the Startline version of the T6.1. More typical, and seen here, is the Highline variant, with 148bhp engine and manual transmission (automatic may be more desirable but it’s a £2,300 premium). You can choose between five standard colours and a further nine

metallic choices, for which you pay extra – the Mojave Beige on this model costs £1,000. Another base vehicle option fitted to our example is a rear-view camera (£300), while conversion extras include diesel-fuelled blown air heating (£1,295), an 80W solar panel with app (£625) and a swivel table tucked inside the nearside door (£195).

The Celex has National Small Series Type Approval, is National Caravan Council-approved and comes with a three-year conversion warranty. Bilbo’s is also one of a small number of companies to have been granted ‘Motorhome Qualified’ status in relation to its conversion work by base vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen.

BUILD QUALITY

Bilbo’s uses the Kombi version of Volkswagen’s Transporter base vehicle. That means it comes from the factory with fitted windows and rear seat

Classic camper layout with all the furniture on one side

Security starts with a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and Category 2 immobiliser. Bilbo’s recommends fitting a tracker system (a Meta Track model, priced from £595) for campers with a retail value of over £55,000.

In terms of the conversion work, Bilbo’s cuts two holes in the base vehicle body – one for the elevating roof section, one for the mains electricity inlet point.

The company makes its own furniture and the Bilbo’s designed roof is side-hinged – somewhat unique these days. Typically, Bilbo’s customers want that for standing room along the length of the vehicle once on site (there is also storage shelving front and rear on the long-wheelbase example here), rather than specifying the extra bed option.

Zipped panels front and rear provide ventilation, while acrylic windows let in the light. It’s particularly easy to put up and down, and virtually impossible to trap the ‘canvas’ during such operations. And those rubber strips along each side of the bodywork? They’re Bilbo’s own, too, and have long proved themselves as brilliant protectors against unwanted little scrapes.

DRIVING

TECHNICAL

Price

£61,665 OTR as tested

Engine

2.0-litre turbodiesel Euro VI

Power

148bhp (110kW) @ 3,250-3,750rpm

Torque

251lb ft (340Nm) @ 1,500-3,000rpm

Transmission

The Volkswagen is quiet and refined, and features a vast array of ‘control’ systems, such as adaptive cruise control. Meanwhile, a sophisticated stereo/infotainment system is centred around a 6.5in touchscreen. Electromechanical steering is light and positive and the brakes are reassuring. It definitely counts as economical (dare owners dream of 40mpg?). As for the extra body length, you barely notice it until you park in a particularly short bay.

DAYTIME

“ The Bilbo’s roof is side-hinged – somewhat unique these days ”

belt mounting points. Other refinements, such as extra noise suppression, distinguish it from its initial status as a commercial vehicle. The Highline T6.1 base means high specification: cab air conditioning, 17in alloy wheels and front and rear parking sensors are among the most notable features.

This is a classic Volkswagen campervan layout – with the furniture all along one side of the vehicle and a rear seat that converts into a double bed. The greater living space provided by the long wheelbase results in an extra worktop and an additional shelved locker.

The furniture might look basic – but all edges are carefully rounded and there’s a melamine finish that’s easy to clean. The ‘Blueflec’ scheme here also makes the interior feel more roomy; darker Puntinella is a no-extra-cost alternative.

A lightweight table stows for travel on the end of the kitchen unit. It’s easy to use, clipping onto a rail on the front of the kitchen, where it can be adjusted as necessary. It might be a struggle if you are catering for more than two folk at mealtimes (hence the aforementioned second table option).

NIGHT-TIME

The bed is easy to set up: unlock the backrest and flip it all the way over to create a generous, flat mattress area (approximately 6ft 3in x 4ft 4in maximum). The head restraints can be removed and stowed if desired, but frankly there’s sufficient space

Six-speed manual, FWD

MRO

2,517kg (49.55cwt)

MTPLM

3,200kg (62.99cwt)

User payload

683kg (13.44cwt)

Overall length

17ft 4in (5.28m)

Overall width

6ft 10in (2.08m)

Overall height

6ft 7in (2.01m)

Max internal height

6ft 3in (1.91m)

Fuel/tank/econ

Diesel/15.40 gals (70 litres)/3440mpg

Figures from manufacturer s literature

To read more vehicle reviews and see video tests, visit camc.com/ blog

Rubber strips protect against scrapes Side-hinged

Main table (above) and extra swivel table (top)

Above from left: bed make-up is easy; plenty of standing room; easy-clean surfaces have rounded edges

RATINGS

“ Bilbo’s has squeezed in a 65-litre compressor fridge with freezer compartment ”

here to leave them in situ. Lined curtains with press studs ensure no stray light gets in, and Bilbo’s claims there’s less chance of rain damage when windows or doors are open, compared to other types of blackout. That’s also the reason for the plastic insert in the sliding door; many other campers make do with carpet that, once damp, takes an age to fully dry.

KITCHEN

The Celex kitchen is different from the typical campervan offering, too. There’s a two-burner hob and sink in stainless steel but these are separate rather than combined, so there’s flexibility in terms of which lid you leave open or closed, resulting in useful worktop space. Plus you get an extended section of permanent worktop. The grill comes as standard but if you’re ordering your own Celex you can opt for a microwave oven or even just a drawer instead.

Above: storage is a strong point

Vehicle supplied for testing by: Bilbo’s Motorhomes, Eastbourne Road, South Godstone, Surrey RH9 8JQ Contact: bilbos.com, 01342 892499

Bilbo’s has squeezed in a 65-litre capacity compressor fridge that includes a removable freezer compartment.

Over the kitchen, the run of little lockers is an absolute boon for storage of smaller items.

WASHROOM

This is a campervan, so don’t expect full washroom facilities. There is a dedicated space for a portable toilet in the rear seat base but there is still plenty of room for storage in this area – a particular Bilbo’s strong point. There an attachment just inside the tailgate for an external shower – ideal for washing off dirty footwear, etc.

DETAILS

There are plenty of impressive touches inside the Celex: the largest cupboard has removable shelves; upper-level LED lights are individually dimmable; the Webasto heating (option) includes a digital control panel with timer function; drawers are soft-close; there are fresh and waste water tanks and there is a powerful 130Ah AGM leisure battery.

There’s a cluster of sockets on the furniture unit –mains, 12V and a double USB port – plus two more mains sockets elsewhere. And you’ll find a wireless charging pad in a cubby adjacent to the main electrical control panel.

VERDICT

It may be bling-free, but don’t be fooled by that... Bilbo’s has 44 years of campervan conversion expertise, and the Celex is an example of the practicality and reliability for which it is known. Give serious consideration to the extra space that the long wheelbase Volkswagen gives you.

You can insure this motorhome with the Club for £320.19 per year. Please see camc.com/ insurance or call 0345 504 0334 for further details.

Quote (correct as of 15 October 2021) is for the model tested worth £61,665 with factory-fitted alarm and immobiliser, and a working tracker fitted as a compulsory requirement. Based on a 57-year-old male living in Kent, with a maximum no claims bonus (unprotected) coming from a vehicle of similar value/experience, who has no accidents, claims or convictions and keeps the vehicle on a drive, driving 3,000 miles a year, with a £350 damage, fire and theft excess. Subject to underwriting. The Club’s Motorhome Insurance is arranged for the Club by Devitt Insurance Services Limited, Insurance Brokers. Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited. The Caravan Club Limited and Devitt Insurance Services Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

With our award winning Caravan Cover, our members come back to us year after year. Nearly 89% of all cover holders renewed between 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021* Plus we have been voted by our members to be The Best Caravan Cover Provider, every year for the last 3 years. See what our award winning cover can dovisit camc.com/caravancover or call 01342 488 338 for a quote today.

Bargain hunt

Rob McCabe casts his eye over three used tourers in the £10k –£15k bracket

The Sterling Eccles Topaz is in such good condition both inside and out that you wouldn’t guess it was eight years old

The dramatic increase in the demand for used caravans shows no signs of abating. Even though travel restrictions have eased, UK holidays remain the priority for a lot of people, and the self-contained nature of caravanning has led many to make an investment. As a result caravan dealers find demand outstripping supply. Despite the shortage, there are still some gems waiting to be discovered as I found on a visit to a dealership in Peterborough. This is the full version of a truncated article that appeared in the December issue of the print magazine.

2014 STERLING ECCLES TOPAZ, £14,995

This smartly presented end-washroom two-berther has an awful lot going for it. It looks more like eight months old than eight years, with an equipment roster and fresh, youthful ambience that wouldn’t look out of place on a 2022 caravan. Highlights are Al-Ko ATC, exterior gas and mains sockets, Alde heating, dual-fuel hob, Omnivent roof fan and a big sunroof above the lounge.

There’s a motorised mover, which you won’t find on

a brand-new caravan, but is increasingly common on second-hand models. All three of the caravans we’re reviewing here have one fitted. You should always ask for a demo to ensure it works properly.

There are a couple of very minor flaws on the Sterling that will need to be dealt with in its pre-delivery inspection: the entrance door window blind is stuck and some of the beading on the wardrobe door is loose. But all the important things can be ticked off: gleaming kitchen appliances (as good as new!), unblemished surfaces and a pristine shower cubicle.

The lounge is easy on the eye, and very comfy with its immaculate, still-plump upholstery. And it’s very practical too: with four comfy corners, it makes a great entertaining space, with convenient surfaces for everyone to plonk their drinks on.

VERDICT

Under 15k, in this condition, with a mover and a year’s warranty? Silly not to.

14ft 5in (4.40m) Overall length: 19ft 11in (6.07m)

Mover fitted?

Yes

Warranty: 12 months’ parts and labour

TECHNICAL

MRO:

1,340kg (26.4cwt

MTPLM:

1,495kg (29.4cwt)

Internal length:

19ft (5.79m))

Overall length:

24ft 2in (7.36m)

Mover fitted?

Yes

Warranty:

Six months’ parts and labour

2011 LUNAR CLUBMAN ES, £11,995

This cracking example is a poignant reminder of what a fine, well-equipped caravan the Lunar Clubman was as well as being a credit to its previous owner for ensuring it enters its second decade in such fabulous condition. A bank of Approved Workshop service stickers confirms it has been conscientiously looked after, as does the general spick-and span-ness of the interior.

it, and with a generous selection of scatter cushions and bolsters, the lounge is one in which you’d be happy to spend a lot of time. Just pour yourself a drink from the glass-fronted, illuminated wine cabinet – a familiar Clubman feature – and put your feet up!

With thanks to:

All caravans on sale at Pioneer Caravans, Peterborough PE6 7UB.

Contact: pioneer caravans.co.uk

The huge, impressive end washroom/changing room with a walk-in shower cubicle (where the included Aquaroll and Wastemaster containers are currently stowed) will find favour with caravanners who frequent CLs and rally fields, where selfcontained facilities are a must, while the side dinette offers two good beds (the full-length privacy curtain is present and correct) or a breakfast bar for those using it as two-berth.

The country cottage-style upholstery may look a little dated but there’s a hint of restrained elegance to

For your 12 grand, you get pretty much everything that a newer caravan would give you: ATC, Alde heating, exterior gas and mains sockets, Omnivent, microwave, electric hotplate, two TV viewing locations, fitted stereo, pleated blinds and removable carpet sections.

VERDICT

A superb, age-defying tourer that’s wellpriced – especially if you can negotiate a 12-month warranty.

The Lunar Clubman is in exemplary condition

2009 BAILEY PAGEANT SERIES 7 MONARCH, £9,995

This one’s a bit of a wild card. Fundamentally, the end-washroom, two-berth Monarch is a reassuringly clean, nice-looking caravan, with all the creature comforts that made the Pageant such a success during its long, distinguished production run.

However, a previous owner’s DIY add-ons are bound to raise eyebrows. The most prominent are a hefty wooden surround for a stereo head unit, a satellite receiver box that Heath Robinson himself would have been proud of and a similarly sturdy shelf which would come equal-last in any beauty contest. On the other hand, the banks of LED downlighters under the lounge’s overhead lockers are a much more pleasing and subtle addition to the Monarch’s equipment roster.

The upholstery and woodwork are in very fine condition. The use of concealed latches on the overhead lockers gives the whole interior a smart, modern feel. And while I wouldn’t choose the upholstery pattern for my own home, agreeably plush lounges are what Pageants did very well, and this example has still got it.

All the surfaces are unblemished and the kitchen fitments are reassuringly clean. Indeed, I’d hazard a guess that the four-burner gas hob is a replacement – it looks like it was fitted yesterday. Like the Lunar, this one has an end washroom in which you could swing multiple cats to your heart’s content.

The Pageant makes it a clean sweep of caravans equipped with Al-Ko ATC and a motorised mover – both very desirable fitments that would be very expensive to specify as extras when buying new.

VERDICT

TECHNICAL

To read more vehicle reviews and see video tests, visit camc.com/blog

MRO:

1,118kg (22cwt)

MTPLM: 1,295kg (25.5cwt)

Internal length: 15ft 10in (483m)

Overall length: 21ft 1in (6.42m))

Mover fitted?

Yes

Warranty:

Six months’ parts and labour

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this one wouldn’t be for me. If you can see beyond the clunky DIY add-ons, it’s otherwise really nice.

Also on sale… Three other caravans on Pioneer’s forecourt

2019 Bailey Phoenix 420, £15,995

A lightweight (1,139kg MTPLM) end-washroom two-berther that’s had just one owner from new. D escribed as being in ‘fantastic condition’ and offered with a year’s warranty.

2019 Lunar Alaria TS, £29,995

The opposite end of the scale from the little Phoenix: eight feet wide, 2,000kg MTPLM and twin axles. This fixed-single-beds, four-berth is dripping with luxury equipment, including a self-levelling system, solar panel, dimmable lights and 21in TV/DVD. 12-month warranty.

2014 Swift Challenger 480, £14,995

Stylishly turned out two-berth en d-washroom model with Alde heating, dual-fuel hob and motorised mover. 1,394kg MTPM, 12-month warranty.

Annual General Meeting

Here are the highlights of the Caravan and MotorhomeClub’s 2021 AGM, held at Chester Racecourse on Saturday 23 October

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

At the beginning of the meeting, attendees held a moment of reflection for absent friends, in particular the Duke of Edinburgh and Sir David Amess.

Grenville Chamberlain reflected that 2020 was one of the most difficult in the Club’s history, but reported it had emerged stronger and with future prospects that are more positive than we could have ever expected.

He discussed the Club’s response to the pandemic, explaining that virus-related developments were monitored prior to lockdown, and preparations were made for home working. The Club’s Contact Centre, booking, advice and support and emergency services have been available continuously throughout the crisis.

He said the difficult decision to close the site network in March 2020 was taken to protect members, guests and staff. He also mentioned that 14 sites were kept open to provide safe harbour for those unable to travel home, key workers and the vulnerable.

Grenville spoke about the ‘Support Your Club’ campaign which encouraged membership renewal, and discussed the benefits of member engagement through virtual events such as quiz nights and the Big Little Tent, Tea Time and National Festivals. With industry exhibitions and

Elections/Re-elections

■ President – The Earl of Leicester

■ Vice-President – Michael Drayton

shows cancelled, Grenville explained that a virtual Club Week ensured that prospective and existing members could find out more about the Club and the pastime. It also helped to maintain relationships within the industry.

He said that results following the various campaigns were outstanding. 61,000 member households were recruited in 2020, making it the Club ’s best year ever for new members joining. He also reported that 85% of members renewed by year end. The Club ended the year with 356,000 member households.

While insurance and membership services were maintained on a business as usual basis, from March to June 2020 sales of new travel insurance and Caravan Cover understandably fell to low levels. By contrast, renewals of existing protection fell only modestly. Grenville again highlighted the loyalty of Club members at this time and explained that the booking window had been extended so that existing members would have priority for future stays. Site vouchers were also offered at a 20% discount to encourage future bookings.

The Chairman said that while sites were closed, the Club focused on minimising costs and creating a plan for reopening, putting in considerable work

■ Chairman – Grenville Chamberlain OBE

■ Vice-Chairman – Mark Sinclair-Watson

■ Vice-Chairman – David Turner

■ Treasurer – Christopher Macgowan OBE

■ Executive Committee – Gordon Smart, Ann Marie Ward

behind the scenes with Tourism Alliance colleagues.

Reduced rates of VAT for tourism and hospitality were passed on to members by way of a discount on the site fees paid on arrival, saving members millions of pounds across 2020 and 2021.

Next, Grenville discussed the Club’s site redevelopment programme, which was disrupted by the pandemic. The Chairman noted the extensive work at Battle Normanhurst Court and Penrhos as well as Cayton Village, which completed in April 2021 despite Covid-related delays. Experience Freedom expansions at Cayton Village and Troutbeck Head included universally accessible units, and occupancy of glamping units has been high.

On the subject of CLs, he reported on a small upward trend on the overall number. Grenville explained how CL and Affiliated Site owners have been helped by the Club, and discussed support for Club Centres. Next he spoke about virtual awards in 2020, and how Towcar of the Year and the Caravan Design Awards were presented as Buyer s Guides to inform members purchasing new vehicles. Following the lack of a Club National in 2020 and 2021, Grenville was pleased to confirm that ClubFest, the new national event for members, will take place at Belvoir Castle in 2022.

Having expressed his gratitude for the help given to members

with overseas travel bookings and those abroad when the pandemic unfolded, Grenville turned to the future. He noted the overall confidence in the Club, and in the quality of its facilities and the service delivery by staff. Pitches are in demand and membership has continued to grow at record levels.

The Chairman concluded by expressing his thanks to the Director General, his fellow Directors and the Club’s staff, together with volunteers. He also thanked his fellow Club Officers, members of the Executive Committee, Chairmen of sub-Committees and their members, and Club, Divisional and Regional Council members. He also expressed his gratitude to Centre Committees and Rally Marshals. Special thanks were given to Janet Moore and Malcolm Groves, who are retiring after long, dedicated service to the Club, and presentations followed.

14

The number of sites that remained open for key workers, the vulnerable and those unable to travel during the first lockdown

Battle Normanhurst Court, by Katie Dudley

TREASURER’S REPORT

Christopher Macgowan concurred that 2020 had been a very difficult trading year due to the pandemic-related restrictions. Revenue was substantially down by £36m, resulting in a £10m deficit, and investment and discretionary spend was necessarily delayed; cash was managed extremely well to end the year at £38m such that business continuity was assured.

Early in 2020, the Club identified a number of possible scenarios, with each taking a different view on the evolution of the pandemic and the possible impacts of government restrictions, propensity of members and travel restrictions. Response plans were devised for each scenario to incorporate discretionary cost savings, appropriate levels of investment and our operational response, with the objective of ensuring security of cash and business continuity over the next three years.

As a result we were able to approach our long-term bankers to secure a £20m revolving credit facility on good terms should it be needed. Pleasingly, as a result of our actions, we have had no need to draw on this cash facility.

In 2020 the Club recorded a deficit of £10m, a fall from a £4m surplus in 2019 which was driven by the net impacts of the pandemic totalling c£14m.

Total investment in 2020 of £9m was on a par with 2019, itself a low investment/cash recovery year, but was some £8m lower than planned due to the pandemic mitigation measures.

The Treasurer noted that the Club was already in a strong financial position pre-pandemic and because of the mitigating actions taken and the diversity of revenue streams that it enjoys, the Club remains financially sound. It has emerged stronger, with more members, more occupancy and a strong balance

sheet, so the immediate future looks very promising.

Revenue was down £36.1m year on year to £81.7m due to the net impact of the pandemic. Sites felt the biggest and most serious impact, down £22.2m to £35.2m, due to lockdowns and tier restrictions. Membership revenue was up £0.4m at £16.5m.

Insurance and Financial Services was down only £0.3m to £24.1m; there was significant loss of business from Mayday and Red Pennant, but Caravan Cover and Motorhome insurance were remarkably resilient. Travel was, of course, severely impacted by restrictions, down £12.8m to £4.1m; all travel refund requests were honoured by the Club.

Marketing revenues were also down £1.3m to £1.8m as events and rallies, training courses and ancillary services were cancelled.

In terms of Club surplus, Christopher reported that the strong £4.2m positive result in 2019 has dropped to a £9.7m deficit in 2020, a total year-on-year fall of £13.9m. Sites felt the biggest impact, down £9.7m to £0.4m, on a revenue shortfall, as mentioned, of £22.2m. Cost mitigations of £12.5m included furlough receipts, grants and rates relief.

The Club benefitted from opening every site it could for as long as it could for the July to September period in particular.. Membership surplus was solidly up £0.6m to £14.8m, aided by the

record breaking resurgence in the second half of the year. Insurance and Financial Services contributed a strong and resilient performance up £1.8m to £10.8m, assisted by claims savings in the year and net of other residual costs from major floodings in the previous year. Travel ’s bottom line was only down £0.8m relative to the £12.7m revenue shortfall.

Moving on to cash management, key initiatives to mitigate the impact of the pandemic included: curtailment of discretionary expenditure; halting all but critical IT projects; halting site developments not already committed; a discounted Site Night Voucher scheme which raised £6.8m; and applying for all applicable government support. Our approach was to protect members’ interests by protecting the Club’s capabilities and its staff, preserving employment, experience and resilience and avoiding, as far as possible, redundancies. The effect of these initiatives, together with reopening for a good part of the peak period contributed to the Club successfully managing cash to a closing position of c£38m.

Consolidated net assets ended the year at £128.1m, down £15.2m; however, with cash of £38.5m, current assets of £48.9m and net current assets of £15.8m, the Club remains in a very strong balance sheet position despite the impact of the pandemic.

Turning to 2021, budget plans were based on a normal trading year, again recognising a range of possible scenarios. Continuity of furlough, grants and rates reliefs, the continued strong support of our membership and the staycation surge meant that despite losing substantial revenue in Q1 and Travel revenue all year, we were net ahead of our budgets at the half-year point and this over-performance has extended further through the Q3 peak season. Strong UK site performance and robust membership and Insurance and Financial Services have given us a real expectation that 2021 will largely overturn the deficit from 2020.

Our investment rebound will be supported by strong cash flow and reserves, as well as a credit facility buffer, enabling the Club to face the future with courage. Forward bookings, strong site occupancy and increased membership numbers mean that there is room for plenty of optimism.

Christopher finished by congratulating the Centres, Divisions and Regions on their efforts and generosity in raising funds for charitable causes. He also thanked colleagues on the Finance and Management Committee and fellow members of the Executive Committee for their support and guidance, and praised the dedication of Club staff.

16m

The number of visits to the Caravan and Motorhome Club website during 2020 –the equivalent of one visit every two seconds

Trewethett Farm by Gary Watton

DIRECTOR GENERAL’S REPORT

Nick Lomas began his report by further discussing the ability of Club staff to work from home, explaining that a hybrid model for working going forward has been developed.

Office space at East Grinstead House has been reduced, with the lease on one area of the premises surrendered. Nick explained that this will make considerable savings in rent, rates and utilities over the coming years, and he spoke about the refurbishment and reconfiguration of the office to make it more flexible and suitable for collaboration, small face-to-face meetings, etc.

Discussing technological changes, the Director General explained how the volume of traffic to the Club website had increased to over 16m visits in 2020 – the equivalent of one visit every two seconds. The IT team worked tirelessly to improve the resilience of the website, enabling 3,000 concurrent users to make bookings online. (The figure currently is more like 5,000.)

Concerns about disruptions to postal services and the supply of materials such as cards and magazine paper had also been addressed. For new members the Club’s investment in making its services digital has paid off. Almost all members receive their Caravan Cover documents electronically, and we have recently added an electronic membership card into the

Any questions?

Attendees were invited to submit questions to the panel prior to the meeting. Here is just a taster...

Ted Howard-Jones: Will the Club continue to offer members unlimited (and unmetered) electricity when they book a pitch with EHU, or will it move to some form of metering in the foreseeable future?

Grenville Chamberlain: The fairest way to charge for electricity usage would be based

Clubs Sites Booking App. Wherever possible, emails are used rather than postal letters to ensure safe receipt and minimum delay.

Nick discussed the turnaround in 2021, noting that the boom in membership which began during 2020 has continued. New member recruitment is at record levels and renewal rates for existing members are well ahead of expectations. The Club is on course to have record numbers of new recruits and the highest number of members ever.

The surge in sales of leisure vehicles has in turn attracted new members. He said that many who joined in 2020 have renewed in 2021, which shows that the appeal of the pastime is enduring and they are enjoying the value and benefits of Club membership.

Generally, dealers are struggling with low stocks and manufacturers are wrestling with supply chain issues. Nick noted that this could be a challenge for the next season, and possibly beyond.

Despite Club members mostly missing out on the Easter holidays, following phased reopening of sites there has been very high demand for pitches in 2021, particularly following the lifting of restrictions on shared facilities.

Site teams have been dealing with our busiest year ever and total numbers of stays on sites have caught up with the full year position despite being closed for almost 100 days of the year.

on consumption, and this would also likely influence usage levels from a sustainability perspective. Unfortunately, the cost of infrastructure and subsequent monitoring and payment mechanisms are significantly cost prohibitive at this time. Having said this, the Club is constantly reviewing the technology and opportunities in this space in order to identify cost effective ways of being able to deliver this type of arrangement in the future.

Nick mentioned the addition of touring pitches to the network, highlighting work at River Breamish and Teesdale Barnard Castle Club campsites. Commenting on the VAT reductions (see Chairman’s Report), Nick added that the Club is supporting efforts by the Tourism Alliance to keep a reduced rate of VAT for the hospitality industry.

In terms of Insurance and Financial Services, existing renewals remain at high levels for all products. Since the reopening in April, new sales have increased such that Mayday and Caravan Cover have caught up.

The Director General explained that the overseas travel team has seen a very slow season for obvious reasons, but we are now seeing a resurgence of interest, with a new overseas programme for 2022 and strong demand for winter long stay holidays, Worldwide holidays, European tours and overseas rallies.

The staycation boom led the Club to set up pop-up sites at Beaulieu, Retrofest and Beale Park.

Nick spoke about a new CL Advisory Group to help CL owners

David Carr: Why does the Club persist in charging for on-site Wi-Fi when other organisations provide this free for site users?

Christopher Macgowan: The services provided by the Club and others can be completely different. Those which offer free Wi-Fi are often a singular defined hotspot area, whilst the Club offers a sitewide provision allowing usage within your outfit, and therefore price points for these two different

engage more proactively with the Club. All regions are represented and the group will meet on a quarterly basis. The first meeting in February 2021 covered new projects in support of CL owners, trends and industry insights.

He also discussed the Booking Capability programme; the Club is aiming to deliver the new UK sites booking engine in 2022. This will include a new interactive map to search for and book sites; the ability to book multiple campsites at the same time; the option to choose your pitch type; more availability (by taking deposits to reduce speculative bookings); and fast check-in – with payment prior to arrival.

In closing, and speaking on behalf of all the senior staff at the Club, Nick commented on Club Committees, praising the support, guidance and encouragement given by volunteer members during the pandemic. He explained that the partnership between the paid staff and the committees has been a strength and provided great stability.

types of proposition are not comparable. Over the past 10 years the Club has invested heavily in its Wi-Fi provision to provide members with the best possible service at the most affordable price.

You are, of course, always able to access the Club website (for checking bookings and so on) for free at any site.

You can see the answers to other questions asked at camc.com/agm.

The AGM rally at the racecourse catered for over 100 outfits

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You can see more tips from the Club at camc.com/ advice

FUEL FOR THOUGHT

Sammy Faircloth talks us through caravan and motorhome gas systems and shares some important safety advice

Caravanners and motorhomers use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to stay warm in winter, keep food and drinks cold and to cook hot meals. In its natural state, LPG is highly flammable but non-poisonous, odourless and denser than air. There are two types of LPG – butane and propane – and both have their advantages and disadvantages where camping is concerned.

Butane is often (but not always) supplied in blue cylinders and is sold widely across Europe. It is heavier than propane and has a higher ‘calorific value’, therefore producing heat a little more efficiently. However, it doesn’t vaporise into gas if temperatures fall below freezing point. In fact, the vaporisation process slows down even as temperatures approach freezing, meaning the flame on your caravan hob can be lower than usual in cold conditions.

Propane is often (but not always) supplied in red cylinders. It is ideal for winter or cold-weather trips as it still vaporises at

temperatures as low as -45ºC. Meanwhile, the ‘off-take’ rate of a propane cylinder allows more gas appliances to be run simultaneously than a butane cylinder. However, it is harder to find propane in portable cylinders in some European countries (especially southern Europe).

SUPPLIERS

Calor Gas is the leading supplier of gas cylinders (butane and propane) for leisure use in the UK, but its products are not available abroad.

Campingaz butane-only cylinders are sold in most European countries and are the only cylinders which can be exchanged internationally – but the 907 cylinder, which holds 2.72kg of butane, is the only one suitable for modern leisure vehicles.

Alternatively you could go for Flogas’ Gaslight propane cylinders (Flogas supplies standard cylinders with both butane and propane.) These are made from a composite plastic containing glass fibre, making them much lighter than steel cylinders. Their

semi-transparent exteriors enable you to see how much LPG is left inside. They are available in 5kg and 10kg sizes, although some caravan lockers cannot accommodate the larger ones.

Gaslow is one of a number of suppliers of user-refillable (rather than exchangeable) cylinders which can be refilled at automotive LPG pumps (subject to the filling station operator's permission) and at specialist stockists. To prevent dangerous overfilling, all such cylinders should feature an automatic 80% cut-off device.

Refillable cylinders can be filled directly (once removed from the gas locker), but another option can be to semi-permanently install them with a connection to an external filling point, which then allows refilling ‘in situ’. The filler connection is the type used on Britain’s LPG-converted vehicles, although three adaptors are available to suit couplings used elsewhere in Europe. Although relatively expensive to buy, these cylinders can be cost effective (the gas is cheaper per kg than for exchangeable cylinders) if you stay off-grid a lot, or travel widely through different countries.

1. A blue butane cylinder from Calor Gas

2. Propane Calor Gas cylinders for leisure vehicle use are always red

3. The largest Campingaz cylinder, the 907, only holds 2.72kg of butane

4. These Gaslight composite plastic containers from Flogas are much lighter than steel cylinders

15. Only an approved coupling hose should be used. The markings here confirm that this is a highpressure hose that left the factory in August 2012. Rubber hoses deteriorate over time and typically need replacement after five years – this one is overdue being changed 1 2 3 4 5 10 9 8 7 6 11 12 13 14 15

5. Gaslow refillable propane cylinders are popular with motorhome owners

6. If you are travelling in Europe and using a refillable cylinder, you may need to purchase one or more filling adaptors before you travel to match different overseas coupling systems

CHANGING A CALOR GAS CYLINDER

Follow these steps when changing a Calor Gas cylinder:

1. Make sure there is nothing nearby that could create ignition, such as barbecues, gas-operated portable lamps or cigarettes, and switch off all gas appliances.

2. Switch off the cylinder valve (turn clockwise for cylinders with handwheels, or refer to instructions for cylinders using clip-on fittings).

3. Disconnect the regulator/adapter hose.

4. Remove the cylinder.

5. Refit any plug or dust cover supplied to protect the gas outlet.

6. Connect your new cylinder. You can use a spanner to reconnect the regulator/adaptor hose (for propane, you should tighten as far as you can, but do not over-tighten if using butane). Take care not to cross-thread.

GAS LEAKS

Since butane and propane are naturally odourless, as a safety precaution suppliers add an odorant, to warn users if gas is escaping. If

7. Before connecting or disconnecting a cylinder, ensure that the handwheel is turne to off

8. Disconnecting the regulator/adaptor hose

9. Remove cylinders with care

10. Replace the black plug before returning your empty cylinder to the supplier

11. Never cover drop-out holes as these are escape routes for leaking gas

12. Gas leak detector sprays produce foam at the point of leakage

13. Wall-mounted 30mbar uni ersal re ulators are usually mounted high in the gas locker

14. Never transport or store a cylinder on its side

gas does leak, it will sink to the lowest point possible – this is why caravans have escape points called ‘drop-out holes’. To check for leaks, you can apply a leak-detecting fluid or soapy water to the system components. Then look closely for bubbles, which signify a gas escape.

GAS REGULATORS

A ‘gas regulator’ stabilises the flow of gas and ensures that it’s delivered to appliances at the required pressure. In most modern caravans and motorhomes in Britain, a dual-standard 30mbar universal regulator is installed in the gas locker and connected permanently to the rigid piped supply system. The owner only has to purchase a high-pressure hose with factory-fitted couplings to link up with their choice of cylinder.

FINAL THOUGHTS…

Most of us will never have a problem with LPG gas but safety should always come first. Never attempt any work on your supply system, its components or its gas appliances – such tasks should always be carried out by a competent

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

LPG doesn’t have a smell in its natural state – so suppliers add an odorant that warns of any escape

LPG is heavier than air so, if it escapes, it collects at the lowest point. So you should never store cylinders in a cellar or anywhere lacking low-level outlets. Never transport or store a cylinder on its side.

The rubber hose will deteriorate with time, so have it checked regularly for signs of wear and damage.

Always close the cylinder valve before departing on your journey.

gas engineer who has received formal training. You can find out lots more about gas and how to use it safely on pages 608 to 611 of your 2021/22 Sites Directory and Handbook

As this issue went to press we were made aware that Calor had issued a recall on a limited number of its 4.5kg butane cylinders. Visit calor.co.uk/recall for more information.

ASK YOUR CLUB

Roadworthy causes

QI saw many older caravans on the road this year. Some had obvious faults like road lights not working, but probably had other things wrong too. These are surely dangerous and risk damaging the good reputation of caravanning as a whole.

AThere’sno reason why an older caravan (or motorhome) should not be safe and roadworthy, if properly maintained.

Newer vehicles with warranties to maintain and more residual value are usually well maintained as a matter of course, but those buying more cheaply could be tempted to cut corners on maintenance costs. The past year has seen significant numbers of older caravans put back into service after lengthy periods of lay-up, and there are concerns over roadworthiness. We’ve heard reports of older caravans needing their tyres pumped up before leaving sites, for instance, which is very alarming. While the police can and do stop leisure vehicles when they spot signs of concern, the

“ Over the past two years, DVSA checked nearly 4,000 trailers and caravans ”

attention they can give to these issues is limited. The Club works closely with agencies such as the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) which carries out roadside checks on vehicles as well as on drivers, however.

The 2019 Department for Transport Trailer Safety Report, which the Club contributed to, highlighted the lack of roadworthiness condition data for all light trailers (including caravans) and we supported a call on DVSA to include more checks on these alongside their primary focus on HGVs.

As a result, over the past two years, DVSA checked nearly 4,000 trailers and caravans. While, pleasingly, caravans showed fewer faults than commercial trailers, it was worrying that 12% still had faults serious enough to prohibit their onward journey until rectified (over 40% of commercial trailers fell into this category). Many common faults found really should have been self-apparent to owners if basic checks were carried out:

Well over half of all serious faults were to do with road lights. Always check their function as part of your pre-journey routine and carry spare bulbs.

Poor condition of or failure to use the breakaway cable was another common issue. New original-equipment cables can be bought for £10 or less, so there’s little excuse not to have a serviceable one and none not to use it.

The Club’s technical team answers your pressing questions

Poor condition tyres were less common, but certainly not unknown. General requirements are just as for a car in terms of tread wear and damage, but there’s additional guidance to change caravan tyres ideally at five years old (and always by seven years) to recognise that age-related deterioration is more common than wear and tear.

Attention to just these three issues – all well within the capabilities of any owner to assess and probably to rectify – would improve the roadworthiness of ‘problem’ caravans significantly.

For more fundamental servicing and maintenance, including attention to brakes, hitch or chassis, for instance, most owners will need their caravan professionally serviced.

The Club recommends the Approved Workshop Scheme (approvedworkshops.co.uk) for this – a network of over 530 fixed-base and mobile service workshops. Workshops will be booking up fast for spring servicing, so get this scheduled quickly if you haven’t already done so.

Practising what we preach – even on brand new cars and caravans at Towcar of the Year, we check road light functions

Please address your questions to:

Technical Information, Email: technical@camc.com

Tel: 01342 336611

...and quote your membership number

camc.com/advice

CROSSWORD

£90 in Club gift tokens to be won

ADDRESS: NAME:

ACROSS

1 Spun sugar on a stick (5,5)

6 A mirror image (10)

11 Big stripey cat (5)

12 Wallowing animal (12)

Palm fruit (4)

Pleasure trip (4) 17 Plant container (3) 18 Fish-eating mammal (5) 20 Kebab holder (6) 21 Lion's cry (4)

22 Midday meal (5)

23 Milk pudding (7)

25 Upper limb (3)

26 Wound dressing (7)

28 Make of ballpen (4)

29 Televised again (7)

33 On the dole (10)

35 Paint thinner (10)

38 Day of the week (7)

41 Sound of horn (4)

42 Fruit sugar used in energy drinks (7)

45 Pastry or tart (3)

46 Back-of-arm muscle (7)

48 Canal boat (5)

49 Gown (4)

50 Not capable (6)

52 Fragrant conifer (5)

54 Mercedes or BMW (3)

55 Mountain top (4)

57 Boiled or scrambled (4)

59 Work-sparing (6-6)

60 Previous or an abbot’s deputy (5)

61 Outwardly (10)

62 Crisp spicy biscuit (10)

1 Stone hurling device (8)

2 Nocturnal songbird (11)

3 Measurement of three feet (4)

4 Or else (9)

5 To back or second (7)

6 Bird's night perch (5)

7 Bread powder (5)

8 Detailed, intricate (9)

9 Stretched tightly (4)

10 Lacking ideas (6,6)

13 High singer (7)

15 Question about (3)

19 End-of-play speech (8)

20 Garden store (4)

24 Very dry (4)

27 Adoration, splendour (7)

29 Push back forcibly (5)

30 That's my boy! (3)

31 Having many uses (5-7)

32 Narrow, flexible limb, usually of a sea creature (8)

34 Seed capsule (3)

36 Practical lesson (11)

37 Liquid meal (4)

39 Everlasting (7)

40 Period of day (9)

42 Mechanic's lubricating pump (6,3)

43 Square block (4)

44 Hard, fruity sweet (4,4)

47 Wave riding (7)

51 Loiter behind (3)

52 Christmas song (5)

53 Daily jotter (5)

56 Curly-leaf cabbage (4)

58 To practice boxing (4)

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Swift Conqueror 630/6 (C.F) ATC S/R A/H

Bailey Unicorn Pamplona ATC (CF) S/R A/H

Swift Challenger 880X S/R

Buccaneer Clipper

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TAIL LIGHTS

BEAR WITNESS

Club member Simon Bailey happened upon this amusing sign while staying at Pembrey Country Park. We would like to remind everyone that only bears of the ‘teddy’ variety are allowed on Club sites.

Swan lake

An early morning walk can pay dividends – as Glenda Appleby discovered while staying at Poolsbrook Country Park Club site. The necks and heads of these two swans form a heart shape, or perhaps you could call it a ‘cygnet ring’! Thank you for the lovely picture, Glenda.

Your observations on the fun and unusual world of

Funnel weather we’re having

Katie Dudley writes:

“Incredible extremes of weather on our walk from Bearsted Club site – one

minute brilliant hot sunshine, then stormy skies, torrential rain and even a funnel cloud spotted across the fields!”

ON RED ALERT

Peter Foster kindly shared this terrific picture of the Red Arrows, which he took at the Shuttleworth Vintage Weekend. Peter explains that the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team was due to pass over just before 7pm, at the end of the air show; he had an inkling as to their flight path and was in the right place at the right time to capture the magnificent sight. Fantastic!

If you see something unusual on a Club site, CL or while you’re out and about, please send a picture to magazine@ camc.com or tag @candm club on Instagram and we’ll print the best

Cut from the same cloth

We’re big fans of those little touches that mark a caravan or motorhome out as your own, unique place, so this mini felt family by Tracy Winn caught our eye. Accompanying Tracy on her travels are Nigel and Chester, and the motorhome’s name is ‘Hugo’!

TAIL LIGHTS

Your observations on the fun and unusual world of touring

NO BARKING

Karen Johnston was tickled by this photograph of her Sprocker Spaniel Meg, who started to cross a road in Stonehaven before promptly sitting down on some double yellow lines. Luckily no traffic wardens were in the vicinity!

HELLO EWE

Here’s a very happy-looking Herdwick (or ‘Herdy’) sheep near Seatoller in the Lake District... perhaps enjoying a view of nearby Buttermere or the like. Thanks to Frank Dobie for the fun picture!

Peeking duck

Galvin and Marguerite Travers spotted a little visitor having a nose around underneath their motorhome while holidaying in Megavissey, Cornwall. The other four members of the duck’s family were nearby, waiting for news of an uncovered bounty, but alas there was only a scant amount of leftovers in the pan.

VIP for a VIP

Patricia Kollinsky kindly shared this picture of her husband Michael’s 70th birthday celebration –based on the couple and their Coachman VIP. It was made by her (very talented) daughter and Patricia says that it was a grand occasion and much fun was had by all. They have recently taken the real VIP to River Breamish Club Campsite... but it’s unclear whether the Lego figures also made the trip or stayed at home.

COSY CAMPER

If you’re looking for a winter project, how about this for inspiration? Club member Dawn Fitzmaurice made this funky camper blanket for her van – and doubtless it will prove very useful as we move into the colder months. According to Dawn it matches the colour of her Volkswagen, which is grey with an orange accent. Perfect!

If you see something unusual on a Club site, CL or while you’re out and about, please send a picture to magazine@camc.com or tag @candmclub on Instagram and we’ll print the best

A Dart to the heart

Jonathan Manning hits the bullseye on a ride which follows the River Dart and explores rural Devon

Forget delayed gratification - the stellar highlights of this stunning route are in the first three miles as the ride follows an excellent trail above the River Dart from Totnes. This was originally an 18th century carriage ride to Sharpham House, with ancient woodland giving way to beautiful views over the nature-rich marshland, the meandering river, and the hills beyond.

There are benches along the way to stop, sit and soak up the panorama, and with several uphill stretches, the benches also provide pride-saving opportunities to rest! For those in need of something stronger, there’s the option of a diversion (at point 3) to the award-winning Sharpham Wines vineyard on the Sharpham Estate, where vine walks, tastings and tours are available (check booking details as the winery is moving to the other side of the river in 2022, along

with its café - sharpham.com). There’s also a creamery making soft cheeses from the milk of the farm’s own Jersey cows. Sharpham House is not normally open to the public, but there are seasonal open days.

Away from the River Dart, the route follows single track roads with tall hedges - the type of roads that are a nightmare for anyone towing a caravan, but great for cyclists. This is the South Hams region of South Devon, and the landscape is decidedly hilly, so make sure to recharge any e-bike batteries before you set out, or pack a drink and snack to recharge your own batteries.

The ancient village of Harberton is worth a stop, with its hilltop church and historic 13th century inn right next door.

And if you make it back to Totnes without stopping, there’s no end of pubs and cafés along the quirky, independent high street to restore your energy before you pedal back to Steamer Quay Club site.

DIRECTIONS

1 Turn right out of the gates of Steamer Quay Club site and then left at the T-junction. Turn left at the next T-junction to cross the River Dart, and at the roundabout turn left. When the road bends sharply to the right go straight ahead, following signs for National Cycle Route 28. Continue to the Steam Packet Inn.

2

0.7km – Opposite the Steam Packet Inn turn right up a narrow lane, and in 40m, turn left along a bridleway signposted to Ashprington. Continue for almost 3km to a fingerpost sign on the left, where the Asphalt path turns to the right and a gravel path leads ahead to Sharpham Estate.

3 3.1km – Turn right to stay on NCR 28, which eventually reaches the edge of Sharpham Estate. Continue on this road into Ashprington.

4 4.7km – Turn right in front of a war memorial in Ashprington. Continue for 3.5km until the road bends 90º to the right.

5

8.2km – Turn left at the bend, signposted to Harberton. Continue for 1.4m to a crossroads with a stone cross.

ABOUT THE ROUTE

Start/finish: Steamer Quay Club site, Steamer Quay Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5AL.

Distance: 10 miles/16.3km.

Time: 2 hours .

Level: Suitable for fitter adult cyclists and e-bike riders.

Terrain: Mostly Asphalt with some hard-packed gravel.

Landscape: Beautiful views of the River Dart and marshland; pretty countryside and ancient villages.

Refreshments: Durant Arms, Ashprington; Church House Inn, Harberton.

6 9.6km – Turn right at the crossroads, signposted to Harberton. Go straight over the first crossroads in 500m and continue to a T-junction.

7 10.8k – Turn left and continue to Harberton. Turn right along Fore Street, just before a bus stop, and in 30m turn left at a T-junction along Tristford Road and continue almost to the top of the hill to a crossroads.

8 11.9k – Turn right at the crossroads and continue for almost 2km to a T-junction.

9 13.6k – Turn right, then left at a crossroads to descend into Totnes. After 1.1km turn right onto Cistern Street, signposted to Steamer Quay and Town Centre car parks. In 50m, turn right along The Lamb. At the T-junction turn left, then almost immediately right to reach another T-junction. Turn right at the junction along Heath Way then left at the next T-junction along St Katherine’s Way, and follow the road to the roundabout from point one. Turn right, crossing the Dart, and on the other side of the bridge turn right along Seymour Road. In 50m turn right along Steamer Quay Road to return to the Club site.

DOWNLOAD THIS ROUTE AND OTHERS TO YOUR GPS DEVICE FROM OUR STRAVA PAGE: STRAVA. COM/ ATHLETES/ 27202656

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The Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine recommends the use of Ordnance Survey maps – your ideal passport to navigating Britain

Totnes

River Dart

Hope Valley, Peak District